National
5 years ago

Country sees warmest winter in five years

'It'll affect output of Robi crops'

- Internet photo
- Internet photo

Published :

Updated :

After witnessing an all-time low temperature last year, the country is now experiencing a five-year high temperature during winter in this season, according to official records.

The maximum temperature of the country was recorded at 32.6°C in Cox's Bazar on the day, which is a five-year record in winter season.

The rather-hot winter might hamper production of Robi crops, including rice, wheat, maize, potato and vegetables, said experts.

They also said such a warm weather in the winter might be an outcome of the global climate change.

Minimum temperature of the capital city was recorded at 20.2 degrees Celsius (°C) on January 27, which is the warmest in last four years. It was 20.8°C in the corresponding day of 2015, according to Met Office.

Bangladesh, however, experienced its lowest recorded temperature in 50 years on January 8, 2018, as the mercury dropped to just 2.6°C in Tetulia upazila under Panchagarh.

Meanwhile, Dhaka's maximum temperature was 31.3°C on Sunday. Many city dwellers said they have to use electric fan at their home even at night for the last few days amid warm weather during this Bangla month of 'Magh' (considered the coolest month).

Abdul Mannan, a meteorologist, told the FE that the temperature of December was normal across the country, but it started getting warmer from the first week of January.

A depression is now persisting over the Bay of Bengal for the last few days, causing a cloudy weather in various places. The clouds are causing such a hot weather in the country, he added.

However, Met Office forecasted that weather might be cooler from January 29-30.

Prof Dr Abdul Hamid, chairman of Bangladesh Agrarian Research Foundation (ARF), said the length of winter season in the country is gradually shortening, which is an alarm bell for cultivation of Robi crops.

"Most of the winter crops, especially wheat, potato and some varieties of vegetables, grow well in places where minimum temperature remains at below 15°C and maximum below 25°C."

Prof Hamid, an agronomist, also said maximum temperature crossed 27-30°C, while minimum temperature went up to 16°C degrees in most of the districts.

The outbreak of late blight disease might increase in potato fields in February due to the ups and downs in temperature. Wheat production might also witness a severe setback following such a hot weather, he opined.

Vegetable production in the country was outstanding in October-December period.

"But the production might witness a blow in the later part of this Robi season," he added.

Dr Md Azmatullah, a former principal scientific officer at Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), told the FE that fading of winter has a direct linkage with the global warming.

The country is one of the worst sufferers of the climate change. The policy-makers will have to focus on how to change the country's agricultural pattern to cope with the changing climatic condition, he noted.

"Development of disaster-resistant seed varieties should get the topmost priority in the country's food security context."

"The planet will be warmer day by day, and we hardly have anything to do in this regard. We have to introduce new potato, vegetable or wheat seeds, which can grow well even in warmer climate," he added.

[email protected]

Share this news