Thermal Humidity Index: Heat Stress and Food Systems

By /

Context: A joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warns that increasing extreme heat events are disrupting agriculture, livestock, and fisheries, posing risks to global food security.

  • Extreme heat refers to prolonged periods of abnormally high temperatures, often linked to climate change and global warming.
  • Heat acts as a risk multiplier, intensifying droughts, wildfires, and pest outbreaks, thereby affecting food production systems. Example: Heatwaves during crop growth can reduce yields of staples like wheat, rice, and maize.
  • Crops have critical temperature thresholds; beyond this, processes like pollination fail, leading to yield loss. Example: High temperatures during flowering can cause empty grains in rice or maize.
  • Night-time temperatures are equally important; high night heat increases plant respiration, reducing growth and productivity.
  • Livestock are affected through heat stress, reducing milk production and increasing mortality in extreme cases. Example: Dairy cattle can see 15–25% drop in milk yield during heat stress conditions.
  • Fisheries are impacted as marine heatwaves reduce oxygen levels in water, affecting fish survival.
  • The concept of thermal humidity index (THI) is used to assess heat stress in animals by combining temperature and humidity.

La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2026 preparation.

FOLLOW US ON:

â—‰ YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam

â—‰ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS

â—‰ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/

GET IN TOUCH:

Contact us at info@laex.in, https://laex.in/contact-us/

or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929, +91 9052 99 2929, +91 9154 24 2140

OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020

Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar: 1524,  Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081

Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040

Scroll to Top