Hot weather hurts Asian crops as powerful El Nino takes shape
Key takeaways
- El Nino-driven dryness is a double blow for farmers already grappling with fertiliser and diesel shortages caused by the Iran war.
- Wheat prices have risen about 20% since the start of 2026, largely on concerns over drought in key U.S. growing regions.
- One of the strongest El Ninos on record is widely expected to develop in the second half of 2026, bringing hot-dry weather to Asia and excessive rains to the Americas, with global climate change making things worse.
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
Add ARY News on Google AAResize SINGAPORE: Dry weather is disrupting crop planting across Asia, raising concerns about food supplies in the world’s most populous region, and an expected severe El Nino weather pattern could inflict more damage.
From India’s grain-producing northwestern plains to Australia’s eastern wheat belt, and from Thailand’s rice fields to Indonesia’s vast palm oil plantations, hot weather and below-normal rains are hurting crops and forcing farmers to reduce planting, farmers, analysts and traders said.
El Nino-driven dryness is a double blow for farmers already grappling with fertiliser and diesel shortages caused by the Iran war.