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Climate change
OpinionAsia Opinion
Mohammad Yunus
Mohammad Yunus

Opinion | Southeast Asia’s heatwaves threaten food security. How can nations adapt?

  • Many parts of the region are suffering record-breaking temperatures, leading to disruptions in rice supplies and fluctuations in prices
  • Livelihoods can be safeguarded by planting drought-resistant rice varieties, diversifying crops and enhancing early warning systems

Reading Time:3 minutes
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Farmers harvest rice in the Aceh Besar region of Indonesia on February 29. Indonesia President Joko Widodo has asked officials to prepare policies to address the high price of rice in the country as a result of extreme climate changes, which have led to crop failures and low production. Photo: EPA-EFE
Mohammad Yunus
A grim record-breaking milestone was reached in 2023, as it was identified as the hottest year in recorded history. Regrettably, the trend continues into 2024, as evidenced by the alarming data for March: global temperatures have surged to unprecedented levels, surpassing those of previous decades by 0.73 degrees Celsius, and notably exceeding the pre-industrial benchmark by 1.68 degrees.
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Southeast Asia, home to more than 600 million people, is currently experiencing a rise in the number of heatwaves. This phenomenon correlates with escalating occurrences of El Niño. Recent data reveals unprecedented high temperatures documented in early April at various monitoring stations across the region.

In Minbu, central Myanmar, a historic peak of 44 degrees was seen, marking the first instance in Southeast Asia’s recorded history that temperatures reached that high so early in the month. Hat Yai, in southern Thailand, recorded a temperature of 40.2 degrees, setting a record. Similarly, Yên Châu, in northwestern Vietnam, experienced a temperature of 40.6 degrees, unparalleled for this time of the year.

Southeast Asia is an important rice-producing region, accounting for 26 per cent of global rice production and 40 per cent of global exports. It serves as a primary rice supplier to various regions, including Africa and the Middle East.

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As a staple food for over half the world’s population, rice is one of the most vital crops in ensuring global food security. Nevertheless, as a semi-aquatic plant, it needs substantial water resources, thriving predominantly in regions characterised by high humidity. Heatwaves thus pose a threat to production.
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