Egypt is experiencing an exceptional heatwave, with high temperatures and humidity posing significant risks to public health and impacting key sectors such as agriculture and industry.
According to the Egyptian Meteorological Authority, temperatures on the northern coasts range from 31 degrees Celsius to 32 degrees, in Greater Cairo from 37 degrees to 38 degrees, and in the southern region from 40 degrees to 44 degrees.
The Director of Analysis and Forecasts at the Egyptian Meteorological Authority, Mahmoud Shahin said, “The severe heat is expected to persist in the coming days, with both daytime and night-time temperatures forecast to rise by up to 3 degrees Celsius above seasonal averages.”
Ibrahim Darwish, professor of Agriculture at Menoufia University, said that rising temperatures pose a serious challenge to food and water security in agricultural countries.
The high temperatures lead to a decrease in agricultural productivity due to their negative impact on photosynthesis, respiration, and biosynthesis within plants.
Darwish noted that the heatwave is likely to alter planting and ripening times, as high temperatures accelerate the plant’s life cycle, leading to premature and incomplete ripening, which in turn prevents sufficient dry matter formation, especially in grains.
Darwish added that, “The heatwave may also increase the incidence of insect pests and plant diseases, damage plant tissues, and inhibit root development. Crops require more water to compensate for these effects, reducing water-use efficiency and increasing strain on water resources.”
Xinhua/Kamila