Tamil Nadu: Agriculture Department Issues Advisory to Protect Crops from Heatwaves
Tamil Nadu: The Department of Agriculture has issued special technical advisories for farmers to protect their crops from the effects of rising temperatures and potential heatwaves. In this regard, a press release was issued by District Collector K. Porkodi, appealing to farmers to make necessary adjustments to their agricultural practices in accordance with the prevailing weather conditions.
The press release states that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated the possibility of significant climatic changes this year, which could impact agricultural production. Consequently, farmers have been advised to remain vigilant and to adopt modern, scientific farming methods.
The Department of Agriculture has suggested that farmers undertake summer ploughing on a large scale; this helps loosen the topsoil layer and mitigates the adverse effects of the heat. Furthermore, it has recommended adopting a sowing process that ensures proper seed germination, thereby fostering robust initial growth in the plants.
Additionally, emphasis has been placed on the increased use of organic fertilizers to maintain soil fertility and provide crops with natural nutrients. The department has also advised farmers to refrain from irrigating their fields during the afternoon hours, as water evaporates rapidly during this time, resulting in reduced benefits for the crops.
To ensure proper air circulation, it has been recommended that farmers maintain adequate spacing between crops and remove weeds from their fields. This will ensure that the plants receive sufficient air and nutrients.
To retain soil moisture and help lower temperatures, the use of natural mulches—such as straw and sugarcane leaves—has been advised. The department further noted that evaporation-control sprays may be utilized as needed to minimize water loss.
The Department of Agriculture has also advised farmers to harvest perishable crops during the morning hours to preserve their quality. Additionally, it has recommended applying foliar sprays to the crops using high-quality water. Overall, the Department of Agriculture has appealed to farmers to adopt scientific and safe farming techniques—keeping in mind the changing weather conditions—in order to protect their crops from damage caused by heatwaves and extreme heat.
