Pollution is reducing the rice harvest on the Indian sub-continent
December 5, 2006So this could be pretty bad–scientists say the polluted clouds that blanket much of south Asia are having a direct negative impact on the Indian rice harvest. Rice is a staple throughout that region, it would be really serious if they are unable to grow enough to meet local demand.
The problem of course is that India doesn’t have full control over the polluted clouds. Sure some of it is from pollution generated within their borders, and that can be controlled to an extent by the Indian government. But a large part, if not a majority, of that pollution is no doubt caused by the factories in China.
Not a big issue yet but this could become one of those big geopolitical problems in a few years. If the pollution clouds get really bad and their impact gets more noticeable.