Farmers in some areas of north India are now engaging in agricultural activities at night due to the occurrence of harsh climatic situations that have led to a shift in agricultural practices.

From the report, it is observed that due to rising temperatures and heatwave occurrences, most farmers have stopped performing any form of fieldwork during midday. However, activities such as irrigation and harvesting of crops are undertaken either at night or at dawn.

Some northern states of India, such as Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, have been experiencing frequent occurrences of heatwaves. It was observed that the increase in temperatures is affecting labour productivity, access to water and the growth cycle of crops.

From the report, health hazards are being posed to farmers due to the increased duration of exposure to heat. Health problems faced by the farmers due to heat exposure include dehydration, exhaustion, and fatigue. Farmers performing manual labour on farms continue to be the most affected.

It was discovered that agricultural practices at night were becoming a regular practice in times of extremely hot weather, particularly in those places where groundwater irrigation is practised. Cooler temperatures in the evening allow people to work longer periods without the burden associated with working during the day.

The research pointed out problems related to electricity demand connected with irrigating crops at night. Farmers in certain regions depend on electricity-powered water pumps that pump water from the ground to water their crops. Therefore, there can be an extra burden put on rural electricity supply networks during the hot summer days.

According to the results of research, climate change can lead to an increased number of heatwaves in India. Experts often say that higher temperatures can impact agriculture negatively unless preventive measures are taken.

The experts also said that small-scale farmers and farm workers would experience the effects of heat more than bigger farms and farmers because they lack adequate financial resources to buy cooling equipment.

Heat action plans needed to be strengthened, along with the availability of water and other support systems for farmers experiencing harsh weather conditions. Proposed actions were improvements in irrigation planning, enhanced weather advisory facilities and modifications in work timetables of rural workers during times of extreme heat.

There have been several instances of extreme heat in India, where the weather authorities have repeatedly issued heat wave warnings for regions in the northern and central parts of the country. According to climate experts, changes in weather patterns have started affecting agricultural activities and work timetables.