Study: 1.6 billion face water, food threat in Asia

KATMANDU, Nepal

“South Asia’s vulnerability to climate change has extremely serious implications for agriculture and therefore food security,” Kunio Senga, the ADB’s director general for South Asia, told a news conference in the Nepalese capital, Katmandu.

The Manila, Philippines-based bank, which finances poverty reduction programs, reported the findings Wednesday. The full report, produced by the International Food Policy Research Institute, is due for release later this month in Bangkok, Thailand on the sidelines of a U.N. climate change meeting.

The study warned if current trends persist until 2050, the yields of irrigated crops in South Asia will decrease significantly.

AP