Throughout February, the Satara district in India has experienced temperatures around 35-36 degrees Celsius, impacting agricultural activities, particularly strawberry production. Mahabaleshwar, Wai, and Jawali talukas, known for strawberry cultivation, are facing challenges due to the extreme heat.
The intense heat, with heatwaves beginning as early as 10 am, is affecting crops in their final growth stages. Strawberries are ripening prematurely, resulting in bruising, reduced size, and weight loss, which impacts their taste. Farmers are not achieving the expected yield benefits from the final production stage. Additionally, flowers preceding the fruit are withering, failing to develop into strawberries, leading to financial losses.
Mahabaleshwar and Wai's strawberries are particularly recognized, with many farmers cultivating them. Umesh Khamkar, a strawberry farmer, stated, "We have planted white strawberries in Wai taluka. Since the fruiting period is usually six months, we typically get good production from this strawberry farming. However, as the temperature has started rising, it is affecting the fruits." He noted that the increased temperature is causing flowers to fall prematurely, and farmers are using nets to shield the strawberries from the sun.
Source: Free Press Journal
