Rising temperatures threaten agriculture in Maharashtra, Telangana

A recent workshop in Pune highlighted the serious threat of rising temperatures due to climate change. The event was called “Rising land surface temperature and its implications on humans and natural ecosystems.” It was organized by the Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) and the WOTR Centre for Resilience Studies, with help from Honeywell’s Hometown Solutions India Foundation. The workshop presented results from a study on rising land surface temperatures in Maharashtra and Telangana. The study showed concerning trends, indicating that higher temperatures are impacting water supply, land quality, and farming productivity. As temperatures are expected to increase even more by 2047, the workshop gathered climate experts, researchers, and policymakers to explore strategies to protect farming communities and natural ecosystems. Prakash Keskar, the executive director of WOTR, stressed the urgency of the situation. He called for immediate action to identify practices that can reduce land surface temperatures, conserve water, and protect ecological resources. He emphasized that benefits from these actions should reach every household affected by these changes.