Fighting Heat Wave and Protecting Crops : Daily Current Affairs

Relevance: GS-3: Disaster and Disaster Management.

Key Phrases: ICAR, NICRA (National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture) program, IMD’s classification of a heatwave, impact-based heat wave warning, Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan (2013), Passive Cooling Technology.

Why in News?

Indian Council of Agriculture Research has published a report titled “Heat Wave 2022: Causes, impacts and a way forward for Indian Agriculture”.
The report includes the analysis done through the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) program and suggests ways to fight heat waves and protect crops and cattle.

What is a Heat Wave?

A Heat Wave is a period of abnormally high temperatures, more than the normal maximum temperature that occurs during the summer season in the North-Western parts of India. Heat Waves typically occur between March and June, and in some rare cases even extend till July. The extreme temperatures and resultant atmospheric conditions adversely affect people living in these regions as they cause physiological stress, sometimes resulting in death.
The peak month of the heat wave over India is in May.
In other words a Heat Wave is a period of abnormally high temperatures than normal average temperatures with repercussions on living organisms in a particular area.
As per IMD, the number of heat wave days in a decade has risen from 413 (1981-1990) to 600 (2011-2020).

Classifications of Heat Wave by India Meteorological Department (IMD)

The maximum temperature of a station reaches at least
- 40℃ or more for Plains.
- 30℃ or more for Hilly regions.
Based on Departure from Normal
- Heat wave: Departure from normal is > 4.5-6.4℃.
- Severe heat wave: Departure is >6.4℃.
Based on Actual Maximum Temperature
- Heat wave: Actual Maximum temperature >= 45℃.
- Severe heat wave: Actual Maximum temperature >= 47℃.

What are the factors responsible for heat wave?

The possible factors considered to be responsible for heat waves include the following:
- global warming and climate change;
- shifting of jet streams;
- El-Nino and La-Nina;
- anthropogenic factors like heat islands etc.

What are favourable conditions for heat wave?

Transportation / Prevalence of hot dry air over a region (there should be a region of warm dry air and an appropriate flow pattern for transporting hot air over the region).
Absence of moisture in the upper atmosphere (as the presence of moisture restricts the temperature rise).
The sky should be practically cloudless (to allow maximum insulation over the region).
Large amplitude anti-cyclonic flow over the area.

What is an impact-based heat wave warning issued by India Meteorological Department (IMD)?

IMD issues following colour code impact-based heat warning jointly with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
- Green - normal day
- Yellow - heat alert
- Orange - severe heat alert for the day
- Red - extreme heat alert for the day

Do you know?

The World Meteorological Organization defines a heat wave as five or more consecutive days during which the daily maximum temperature exceeds the average maximum temperature by five degrees Celsius.
The heat wave is also called a “silent disaster” as it occurs at a slow pace, but still inflicts large-scale casualties on humans and animals alike.
A marine heat wave is often characterised as a coherent region of extremely warm sea surface temperature that lasts for days to months. Marine heat waves occur when sea temperatures are higher than usual for a lengthy period of time.
The unusual, early heat waves sweeping India and Pakistan in 2022 were made 30 times more likely due to the direct impact of climate change, a new study showed.
March this year was the hottest in India and Pakistan since records began 122 years ago.

Impact of Heat wave

Impact on Human health
- Dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke.
- Increased mortality and morbidity.
- Increased cases of diabetes and mental health conditions.
Impact on Agriculture
- Reduction in crop productivity and horticulture.
  - As per the report of ICAR, an average yield loss of 15-25% was reported due to heat stress.
  - Moisture stress, sunburn, flower drop and less fruit setting in horticultural crops were reported.
- Death of cattle and decrease in productivity of cattle.
  - led to a reduction of milk yield by up to 15%.
- Drop in egg production as well as increased broiler mortality.
Impact on Economy
- India is expected to lose 6% of working hours in 2030 (ILO Report 2019).
- 9% of working hours are to be lost in the agriculture and construction sector due to heat stress in 2030.

Way Forward

Intervention in Agriculture: Making agricultural systems more resilient
- Strengthening the weather forecasts and agro-advisory services.Also, making them readily available in easy-to-understand vernacular language.
- Sowing and planting heat-tolerant crops. Technologies such as mulching in sugarcane, ridge and furrow conserved the soil moisture and minimised the stress.
- In case of delayed monsoon, a short duration of paddy should be planted.
- For Horticulture crops
  - Straw mulching in orchards must be adopted.
  - Use shade nets and a cotton cloth to reduce sun scalding and scorching of both leaves and stems.
- For Cattle
  - Bathing milch animals to keep them cool.
  - Feeding with green fodder concentrates and mineral mixture at 50-70 gms per day will reduce the heat stress.
Intervention for Human activities
- Adaption interventions
  - Creation of cooling shelters.
  - Water kiosks for easy availability of water.
  - Staggered outdoor work hours to reduce heat stress.
  - Special attention to vulnerable sections (like senior citizens) must be taken.
- Mitigation interventions
  - Construction technology should be adopted to reduce the urban heat island effect.
    - Passive Cooling Technology, which involves naturally ventilated buildings, should be used.
    - Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan (2013) should be the guiding light, which reduced the heat wave-related mortality by 40%.
  - Replacing dark roofs.
Intervention for Climate Change
- Institutions like UNFCCC and its corresponding conventions must be given sincere attention to mitigate the release of GHGs.
- NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) should be strictly adhered to by respective countries.

Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan (2013)

After the devastating 2010 heat wave with 1,344 additional deaths, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and partners prepared the first Heat Action Plan (HAP or Plan) in 2013.
The Heat Action Plan is guide to extreme heat planning in Ahmedabad and includes an early warning system for extreme heat. The AMC releases an updated version of the HAP periodically. The HAP aims to provide a framework for the implementation, coordination, and evaluation of extreme heat response activities in Ahmedabad. The Plan’s primary objective is to alert those populations most at risk of heat-related illness that extreme heat conditions either exist or are imminent, and to take appropriate precautions.

KEY STRATEGIES:

Building Public Awareness and Community.
Initiating an Early Warning System and Inter-Agency Coordination.
Capacity Building Among Health Care Professionals.
Reducing Heat Exposure and Promoting Adaptive Measures.

Conclusion

AR-6 report of IPCC has confirmed that the occurrence of heat waves will become common and more widespread. The heat waves of April-May 2022 in India were more widespread than that of previous years. Only by targeted sectoral interventions, we will be able to address the challenges.

Source: The Hindu BL

Mains Question:

Q. Heat waves are stated to have a devastating impact on Indian Agriculture. Discuss.