Excess Monsoon Rains Threaten Severe Kharif Crop Damage
06-Oct-2025 05:00 PM
New Delhi. During the four-month period of the southwest monsoon, from June to September, various states across the country experienced extremely heavy rainfall, flooding fields, and devastating floods, indicating significant damage to Kharif crops, potentially forcing the central government to cut its production estimates.
The country received heavy rainfall during August and September, and now the retreating monsoon is also bringing heavy rainfall to several states, including West Bengal, Bihar, and Maharashtra.
Although the southwest monsoon began its withdrawal on September 14th, a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea blocked its path.
This blockage has led to heavy unseasonal rains in many states. This untimely heavy rainfall, along with the heavy rains that preceded it, is causing severe damage to crops such as rice, pulses, oilseeds, cotton, and sugarcane.
The extent of the damage is reported to be greatest in Maharashtra, Punjab, and Rajasthan. In Maharashtra alone, reports of Kharif crops being damaged in approximately 6.8 million acres are being reported. The problem is far from over, as heavy rainfall continues in several states.
The continued rain in the eastern and western parts of the country is not only affecting the yield and quality of Kharif crops, but is also delaying the harvesting of ripe crops, which is likely to increase losses.
Officials of the Union Agriculture Ministry say that the impact of crop damage caused by natural disasters is being assessed based on reports received from various states, and changes to production estimates may be considered after this. The average yield of Kharif crops is likely to be affected in many areas affected by floods and rain.
It is noteworthy that the Union Agriculture Ministry has estimated that food grain production (rice, coarse grains, and pulses) will reach a new record level of 171 million tonnes in the 2025-26 Kharif season, which is 300,000 tonnes more than the 2024-25 Kharif production of 168 million tonnes.
However, food grain production estimates may be reduced further. In Maharashtra, half of the total kharif crops are reported to have been damaged or destroyed.
This year, kharif crops were cultivated on approximately 1.45 lakh hectares in the state. According to the Agriculture Minister, crops on approximately 6.8 lakh hectares of this area have been affected by floods and rains.
Data is being collected until September. Previously, crop losses were assessed until August, and based on that, an amount of ₹2,215 crore is being provided to farmers. Crops like soybean, maize, cotton, urad, moong, tur and sugarcane have suffered huge losses in the state.