Pollution Hits Rice Harvest Hard

13/12/2006

Pollution-laden clouds may be partly to blame for India's dwindling rice harvests according to research.

A US team found brown clouds which cloak much of South Asia have a negative impact on rice output by reducing sunlight and rainfall.

They discovered elevated levels of greenhouse gases also reduced yields. The study reported in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences came a day after researchers said new crops adapted to a warmer climate are needed.