Farmers Need A Helping Hand

In the apple orchards of Shopian and the paddy fields of Ban-dipora, farmers are staring helplessly at dry soil and sun-burnt leaves due to the prevailing extreme temperatures.

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While there is hope that ongoing rains might dampen the earth, likely return of the heatwave will make things worse.

Temperatures have soared well above seasonal norms, with Srinagar recording its hottest day of the year at 37.4°C. The problem isn’t just the heat, it’s the pattern. A snowless winter, a dry spring, and now a punishing summer bode ill for not just Kashmir’s agriculture, but also for the very nature of the weather of the region.

For farmers who rely on predictability in seasons and soil, the disruption has huge economic consequences. Crops are wilting, water sources are drying up, and livestock too is feeling the heat, as story in this newspaper has underlined.