Srinagar records second highest temperature since 1891
Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Sept 12: The relentless heat wave and persistent rainfall deficit are poised to deliver a severe blow to Kashmir’s agriculture sector, with apple and paddy crops bearing the brunt of this impending crisis.
The Valley has been grappling with an unrelenting heat wave this September. According to the Meteorological department, Srinagar today witnessed its second-highest maximum temperature ever recorded in September since 1891, when the local weather observatory was established. Srinagar experienced a scorching 34.2°C, second only to the all-time high of 35.0°C on 18th September 1934.
As per MeT Qazigund’s, maximum temperature soared to 33.2°C, a staggering 6.7°C above the usual temperature for this date. This surpasses the previous record of 32.8°C set on 12th September 2019. Notably, today’s temperature in Qazigund marks the highest reading since the observatory’s inception in 1956, marking a historic weather event.
Meanwhile, as per MeT, Kokernag also experienced an unusually warm day, with the mercury hitting 32.0°C. This is a remarkable 6.6°C higher than the average temperature for this day and exceeds the previous record of 31.8°C recorded on 02 September 2023. Today’s temperature in Kokernag represents the highest reading since the observatory was established in 1977, highlighting the extraordinary heat wave conditions.
Experts point out that the scorching heat has induced premature maturation in the crops, severely disrupting their developmental cycle and leading to a decline in both quality and quantity. The significant drop in precipitation during August and September has exacerbated the situation by depriving crops of natural irrigation and affecting water sources.
“The increased heat induced early flowering, depriving the crop and plant of sufficient time to grow properly, which will undoubtedly impact production and yield,” Sameera Qayoom, Professor and Head of Agrometeorology at SKUAST-K (Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Kashmir), told the Excelsior.
While highlighting the alarming rainfall deficiency, she said that the average September rainfall in the region is 75mm, but it has only received a mere 20mm of precipitation, leaving a staggering 55mm deficiency. Moreover, temperatures have soared 5 degrees Celsius above the normal range, causing extensive damage to crops. “Vegetable leaves have been scorched, and, for instance, the tomato crop has almost no leaves this year due to excessive heat,” she said.
Adding to the concerns, she said, the apple crop, which was at the final stage of development, required more precipitation for colour and size. “The apple growers would not get the desired colour and size, and that means their crop could not fetch desirable rates,” she said.
Echoing these concerns, apple grower Mohammad Sidiq from Pulwama expresses his distress: “The crop is bruised, and the size is small. We have not received any rain, and the irrigation canals and other water sources have nearly dried up, depriving farmers of the essential irrigation they need,” he said.
Sidiq’s orchard is situated in the Karewas of Pulwama, where farmers typically rely on government-built lift irrigation facilities. However, this year, these facilities have failed to provide the required irrigation. “Look at the irrigation canal; it has completely dried up,” he said.
While explaining the irrigation challenges, Assistant Executive Officer of Pulwama, Jasim Ahmad, said that they were unable to provide irrigation due to the exceedingly low water level in the Jhelum River. “The water has receded below the desired level for lifting it for irrigation, rendering the pumps non-functional,” he said. He described the situation as unfortunate and beyond their control, claiming that the water level is currently below 2 feet in the Jhelum.
Officials attributed the drop in water level to illegal sand and boulder mining from the Jhelum and other streams. They said that haphazard and unscientific mining practices have created deep craters in the riverbed, resulting in uneven water availability-abundant in some areas while dry in others. “There is a need for strict Government action against illegal miners to prevent such situations from recurring,” an official said.
Deputy Director Meteorological Department Kashmir, Mukhtar Ahmad, however, offers a glimmer of hope, saying that while there is no immediate relief in sight, they anticipate some showers after September 16th.
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