Crops in India Destroyed Amid Soaring Temperatures Transcript

These farmers near New Delhi are worried. They say soaring temperatures are damaging their produce and their livelihoods. India’s in the grip of a heat wave that’s putting a burden on those who can least afford it.

We spent a lot of money on pesticides and fertilizers, but made no profits. We’ve worked hard, but the crops still failed because it’s too hot.

In April, India’s meteorological department issued several heatwave warnings. They predicted above normal temperatures for most of the country from that month until June. But with nearly half of India’s workers being based outdoors, it’s not just rural areas that are affected. Commuters in the cities have been doing whatever they can to keep cool.

It’s too hot in Rajkot, but because we have to come out to work, we’ve got cold drinks to try to beat the heat. The temperature’s around 40 to 45 degrees Celsius right now.

And experts say there’ll be no relief in the short term.

What is likely is that once this western disturbance moves away eastwards, we expect the thunderstorm activity… We expect the temperatures to start rising, clear skies, lot of solar heating.

The UN says more than 90% of India is susceptible to extreme heat. Most people here will have to do whatever they can to get through the long hot days ahead.

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Paul King, Al Jazeera.