States need financial support for climate disaster preparedness: Minister T. Siddique

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 19 (UNI) The Centre should provide adequate financial assistance to states for taking preventive measures against climate-related disasters rather than releasing funds only after agricultural losses occur, Kerala Agriculture Minister T. Siddique has said. Addressing the South Zone Agricultural Conference of Agriculture Ministers here, Siddique said climate change was seriously affecting Kerala, with night temperatures remaining above 20 degrees Celsius and daytime temperatures rising beyond 36 degrees Celsius. Such extreme weather conditions were a matter of serious concern for the agriculture sector, he said on Friday. The Minister said Kerala was implementing various programmes and measures to tackle…