Wayanad reels under rising heat

KOZHIKODE: While the temperature is soaring and the heat wave is hitting even the otherwise cool district of Wayanad, scientists hold the climate change and vanishing green cover as a reason for the jump in temperature. Even the average temperature is soaring. In 2015, the average temperature in February was 18 degree celsius whereas this year, it was 29.13 degree celsius. 

Going by the data of the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Ambalavayal, the maximum temperature registered in the district in February this year was 32.5 degree celsius (February 27) whereas it was 31.6 degree celsius in February, 2017. Experts also pointed out that the temperature touched 33.5 degree celsius in February 2016, which was the highest registered in February in the last decade.

RARS director Dr P. Rajendran told DC that the crops would be affected due to the soaring temperature. “With the high temperature continuing, if we do not get copious summer showers soon, coffee, pepper and paddy crops will be seriously affected”, he added. It is flowering season for coffee and the rejuvenation process of pepper vines after the harvest would not take place, it was pointed out. Noted scientist Dr Anil Kumar, chief of MS Swaminathan Research Foundation told DC that it was high time to look into water conservation measures. “Expanding and strengthening the green cover also is equally important if we want to retain the district like it is now,” he added.