Heatwave grips Egypt, prompts widespread warnings

Ibrahim Darwish, professor of Agriculture at Menoufia University, said that rising temperatures pose a serious challenge to food and water security in agricultural countries.

He told Xinhua that 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, he added.