Delay in Kharif Sowing as Monsoon Rainfall Deficit Reaches 42%

22-Jun-2026 03:46 PM

New Delhi: Due to the sluggish progress and weak activity of the southwest monsoon, the national rainfall deficit this year has reached 42% below the normal average level. This is not only delaying the sowing of kharif crops but is also raising concerns about a decline in crop yields. If the situation becomes more serious, farmers may be left with only two options: either leave fields fallow or shift to crops that mature within a shorter period.

During the current year, rainfall performance has remained disappointing in the country's rain-dependent central states. According to available information, rainfall has been below normal by 82% in Maharashtra, 69% in Jharkhand, 67% in Chhattisgarh, 48% in Madhya Pradesh, and 47% in Odisha. Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are the largest producers of soybean. If the monsoon does not become active soon and this large rainfall deficit does not narrow, cultivation of crops such as pulses, oilseeds, paddy, and cotton could face significant delays.

In areas experiencing the most severe rainfall shortages, if the monsoon does not become fully active within the next two weeks, farmers may increasingly turn to crops such as soybean and maize, as these have relatively shorter maturity periods.

In the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, farmers are still waiting for sufficient rainfall to begin sowing pigeon pea (tur/arhar). Farmers in Latur say that if good rainfall does not occur by the first week of July, they will abandon pigeon pea cultivation and start sowing soybean instead. Soybean requires comparatively less water and has a shorter growing period. The same situation applies to maize as well.