Heat Waves and Harvests

As climate change accelerates, heatwaves have emerged as one of the most intense and least understood threats to agriculture. Their silent and sudden nature, coupled with rising frequency and duration, poses critical risks to crop production, livestock health, water resources, and farmer livelihoods. Yet, in many regions, the understanding of heatwave impacts and the strategies for adaptive response remain limited or scattered. This timely book addresses that gap with clarity and urgency. Heatwaves and Harvests brings together science, field evidence, policy insights, and farmer-driven solutions to explore how agricultural systems can withstand extreme heat. Written by experienced scholars and practitioners in agrometeorology and rural development, the book explains the drivers of heatwaves, their agro-ecological impacts, and the regional vulnerabilities across India and other climate-sensitive regions.Equally important, the book showcases a wide array of innovative adaptation strategies from microclimate management and agro-advisories to climate-resilient crop planning, digital tools, and traditional knowledge. Case studies highlight successful community-based interventions, smart irrigation practices, heat-tolerant crop varieties, and the role of early warning systems. Aligned with global initiatives like the WMO Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) and the UN Early Warnings for All, this volume is a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, extension workers, and students of climate and agriculture. Most of all, it is a practical guide for farmers navigating the age of extremes. By combining scientific insight with ground-level experience, Heatwaves and Harvests contributes meaningfully to the urgent global conversation on food security, farmer resilience, and climate adaptation. It is both a wake-up call and a roadmap for action.