The far-reaching implications of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran are being felt by South Asian farmers, whose livelihoods are inextricably linked to global events unfolding thousands of kilometres away.
A critical chokepoint in international trade, the Strait of Hormuz, is at the epicentre of the crisis, as one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes through this narrow shipping lane, a key ingredient in the production of nitrogen-based fertilisers.
Disruptions to fertiliser supplies can have a devastating impact on crop yields, drive up costs, and push up food prices, posing a significant threat to the region’s agricultural sector.
Pakistani wheat farmer Muneer Ahmad warns that the escalating crisis could have far-reaching consequences for his community, saying, “If fertiliser prices rise, it will affect everyone here.”