Experts warn of El Niño challenges in Wayanad
A multi-stakeholder workshop in Puthoorvayal addressed potential risks including crop yield decreases, water shortages, and increased disease outbreaks.
The MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) organised a multi-stakeholder workshop on El Niño at Puthoorvayal in Wayanad, according to The Hindu.
The programme was supported by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) and the Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development (DASD).
K.K. Ramachandran, KSCSTE executive vice president and principal secretary to the Government of Keralam, inaugurated the event.
More than 80 participants attended, including farmers, dairy workers, frontline health workers, and experts in meteorology, forestry, veterinary sciences, agriculture, and public health.
Experts at the workshop highlighted several potential challenges, such as reduced soil moisture leading to lower crop yields, water shortages, and forest fires.
The speakers also noted risks including reduced milk production, heat-related illnesses, human-wildlife conflict, and an increased risk of vector-borne diseases like dengue and Kyasanur forest disease.