Anoop Khajuria
The sudden eruption of heatwave in Kashmir valley and western Himalayas at large is not an unprecedented phenomenon but an extension of the events unfolding at a global level due to climate change and global warming. Rising global temperatures due to greenhouse gas emissions are impacting even traditional cooler regions like Kashmir. And just add to it the deforestation and land use change in the region. Loss of forest cover in the Pir Panjal and Himalayan region reduced natural cooling and disrupts local climate balance. Massive urbanization and infrastructure development has reduced green covers with heat retaining surfaces. The data reveals that such a warmer July was recorded in 1892, almost 72 years before. Since, we don’t know about the exact factors for such alarming temperatures then, but we are quite sure for now. Maximum temperature of 37 degree C recorded in valley is much higher than many parts of Jammu region. A look at IMD data clearly shows that Katra and Batote are cooler than Pahalgam. In Jammu region, temperatures are cooler than the valley.
The Kashmir valley in the western Himalayas is not the alone impacted by rising temperatures. Giving a global perspective to the phenomenon of sudden rising temperatures, John Naim, WMO, Heat Monitor Advisor reveals that in 2022, according to a study, the EU alone accounted for 60,000 deaths due to heat related stress. He further says that according to IPCC, the warming in the arctic has altered jet stream paths, sometime blocking cool air from reaching the region and trapping heat.
The altering jet streams of the arctic region may have a profound effect on the western disturbances. But the fact remains, the alarming rising temperatures bound to have an impact on the Kharif crops and apple cultivation in the state.
” No doubt, the rising temperatures in those regions hitherto known for a cooler temperature will haver some impacts on the maturing apple crops and over all quality can suffer losses. Pre-mature fruit drop is a possibility but it cannot be construed as a universal impact on the fruit as there are other several factors that govern the fruit growth.” Says Dr. Vikas Sharma, Professor & Head of soil Sciences department, SKUAST Jammu. “However, the paddy crops of Jammu region and Maize crops cultivated in the upper region have been ushering in the conducive weather as the heatwaves emerging during peak summers of June did not extend beyond ten days. Further, rainfall has been low, good enough for Paddy and Maize.”
This heat spell in the Kashmir valley will continue till 27th of July, predicts the MET department. Temperatures will continue oscillating in the warmer range and that would mean pressure on the irrigation systems, pest disease incidence, and shifting cropping patterns.
The sudden warmer temperatures in the February month, this year, in Himachal Pradesh had resulted in chilling hours reduction. Many fruiting crops need minimum number of chilling periods usually in hours to flower and fruit properly.
UN intergovernmental panel on the climate change (IPCC) has scientifically in its assessment reports have indicated changing weather patterns, erratic rainfall, fluctuating atmospheric temperatures and a profound impact on the crops leading to long term concerns of livelihood threat, Food security, water scarcity and biodiversity loss. Recently the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) predicting the high probability of temporarily exceeding the 1.5 degree C warming threshold within the next five years over and above the pre-industrial levels. The report has specifically mentioned that there are 70% chances that the five-year average temperature between 2025 and 2029 will surpass 1.5-degree C. Given the situation and the short and long early warning predictions, it is high time that aggressive policy frameworks are evolved to combat the climate change impacts on farming. Adopting to the Adaptions is a workable solution for climate resilience agriculture practices but then, all the stake-holders, be that farming community, scientific observations and innovations, state agriculture departments and the academia must aim together for providing region specific solutions for a sustainable agriculture.
(The author is a green film maker and member Asia-Pacific organization of journalists and broadcasters.)
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