After drought has severely affected North American grain production and abnormally dry weather is impacting on wheat production in the Black Sea region and India, where a host of other kharif crops in the North and West of the country have also been affected by below average monsoon conditions, officials in Australia have expressed concern over growing drought conditions.

In Australia, predictions for a dry El Niño in the East of the country have raised concerns and led the country’s National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) to renew its push for drought policy reform. Farming organisations, which this week met with Australian ministers to discuss reforms, have called for a drought policy which improves infrastructure, risk management and allows farmers to “build self-reliance” in order to better withstand periods of prolonged drought.

Australia is frequently hit by drought; NFF president Jock Laurie said this week that the country is currently officially drought-free for the first time in ten years. However, the farming leader said that this year’s weather predictions bode ill for the Eastern states and that “the next drought it a case of when, not if.”

Laurie said that, as climate change begins to take effect, variable and inclement weather will become more frequent and that, under such conditions, “even the most efficient farmers cannot be expected to simply cope.”

The extremely difficult year has affected production of a range of foods, including many of the world’s staple grains. Perceived scarcity has led to market rallies which forced rapid increases in the price of many food items last month. World aid organisations including the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation and Oxfam International have expressed fears that the situation could lead to food crises akin to those last seen in 2008.

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