IMD issues ‘heat stress’ advisory to wheat farmers amid high temperatures

The weather department says maximum temperatures are likely to be 3-5 degrees Celsius above normal in several regions.

Representational image | A woman splashes water on her face from a pipe on a hot summer day, at the Prayagraj railway station | ANI Photo

New Delhi: Farmers from Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana should check for heat stress in their wheat crops, the India Meterological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday, warning that maximum temperatures are likely to be 3-5 degrees Celsius higher than normal in several parts of the country.

In a statement, the IMD said temperatures would be 3-5 degrees Celsius above normal over most parts of northwest, west, central and east India for the next five days. Maximum temperatures are already at 35-37 degrees Celsius in places such as Gujarat, Telangana, Odisha and some parts of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

“This higher day temperature might lead to adverse effect on wheat as wheat crop is approaching reproductive growth period, which is sensitive to temperature. High temperature during flowering and maturing period leads to loss in yield. There could be similar impact on other standing crops and horticulture,” the IMD said.

Last year, a heatwave in March damaged the wheat crops and caused their yield to shrink across northern and central states. This year, too, the IMD has advised farmers “to check if the crop appears to be under stress” and provide light irrigation. “To reduce the impact of higher temperature, add mulch material in the space between two rows of vegetable crops for conservation of soil moisture and temperature.”

Naresh Kumar, senior scientist with the IMD, said weak western disturbances were providing ripe conditions for a heatwave to set in. Western disturbances are weather phenomenon in which an extra-tropical storm originating in the Mediterranean causes rain in north and northwest India during winter, driven by westerly winds.

“Basically, weather of the northwestern region is controlled by western disturbances. Even last year, there were very few western disturbances which led to clear skies, which is favourable for heatwaves,” he said, adding: “This year, too, whatever western disturbances have come have only affected the Jammu region, and other Himalayan states are affected by the heat.”

The situation is unlikely to abate for the next five to seven days, Kumar said, adding that it was too early to say how temperatures might be affected next month onwards, when summer sets in.

Wheat production is estimated to hit a record high of 112.18 million tonnes in this crop year ending July.

The central government has formed a panel to monitor heat stress on wheat and mustard crops, and advise farmers on how to cope.