Srinagar, July 9 -- Temperatures have soared well above seasonal norms, with Srinagar recording its hottest day of the year at 37.4degC. The problem isn't just the heat, it's the pattern. A snowless winter, a dry spring, and now a punishing summer bode ill for not just Kashmir's agriculture, but also for the very nature of the weather of the region..

For farmers who rely on predictability in seasons and soil, the disruption has huge economic consequences. Crops are wilting, water sources are drying up, and livestock too is feeling the heat, as story in this newspaper has underlined.

In this context, the advisory issued by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) is timely. The university's detailed guid...