a new form of stem rust, a fungal disease of wheat, which has jumped from eastern Africa to Yemen, may affect the Indian wheat population in the next four years. Scientists are concerned but the good news is that some Indian varieties have been identified, which are resistant to the fungal infection.

"Spread of the fungal infection is quite unpredictable, as it has now reached Yemen. There should be no reason why it cannot spread in India,' says Ravi Singh, stem rust expert of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (cimmyt).