Rabi Crops See Gains and Losses After Recent Rains

16-Mar-2026 01:54 PM

New Delhi. Reports indicate that the first spell of pre-monsoon rains has yielded mixed results for Kharif crops—benefiting some areas while causing damage in others. In Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, these rains have provided significant relief to late-sown Rabi crops.

Conversely, in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir, there are apprehensions that the rains—accompanied by hailstorms—may cause damage to Rabi crops.

Furthermore, crops such as wheat, gram, and mustard—which had already been harvested and left in the fields to dry—are also likely to suffer damage from this unseasonal rainfall.

According to the Meteorological Department, several states across the country may experience rains accompanied by strong winds, or scattered showers with thunder and lightning, between March 15 and March 20.

This weather activity is also expected to lead to a drop in both day and night temperatures. In Punjab and Haryana, the wheat crop could potentially benefit from this weather.

However, in areas where the crops have fully ripened and are ready for harvest, these rains and strong winds could prove detrimental.