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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Environment & Climate

Food security fears mount as UK farmers battle drought

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • UK farmers face dwindling crop yields due to the driest July on record, raising concerns about national food security.
  • Farmers like John Pawsey are experiencing yield reductions of 25-30% and are worried about future harvests amidst persistent drought.
  • Experts urge adaptation to climate change, advocating for diverse farming systems and technological innovation to ensure food system resilience.

Dust clouds billowed from John Pawsey's combine harvester as it cut through a parched Suffolk field, a stark visual of the drought's impact on British agriculture. "It suddenly, completely dried out," Pawsey, a farmer whose family has worked the land for generations, told AFP. Weeks of relentless dry weather have decimated yields of crops like oats and wheat, with Pawsey reporting a 25-30% reduction.

It suddenly, completely dried out.

— John PawseyDescribing the impact of the drought on his farm.

The nation's food security is under scrutiny as heatwaves continue to bake the country. Pawsey, 62, expressed deep concern for the future, admitting, "I am worried about the coming years." He believes farmers must adapt to the changing climate, viewing it as an "opportunity." His organic farm is experimenting with drought-resistant crops like fava beans and chickpeas, and intercropping techniques to enhance resilience.

just seems to have gone on for ever

— John PawseyOn the duration of the drought.

Pawsey stressed the government's role in supporting this transition. Food security expert Timothy Benton echoed the need for change, advocating for "a more circular, diverse farming system" that relies less on imports. "Climate impacts will become greater," Benton warned, "food systems will have to change." He criticized the lack of investment in technological innovation to tackle the escalating crisis, emphasizing that "food is not just food, it's what you grow, produce and the products and processes needed to bring it to the general population."

All of our fears were realised when we got our combines into the field and realised that actually the yield was … between 25 and 30 percent down.

— John PawseyOn the reduced crop yields.

Professor Nicola Cannon from the Royal Agricultural College noted that climate change could even alter British diets. She is cultivating soya with the goal of introducing it more widely. Staples like peas have been particularly hard-hit, with yields at only "50 percent of what we wanted" due to a lack of moisture since March. Pawsey's farm also saw an entire quinoa crop fail.

I am worried about the coming years.

— John PawseyExpressing concern about the future of farming.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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