News Capsule: Excess Rainfall Severely Damages Kharif Crops
06-Oct-2025 11:52 AM
Excess Rainfall Severely Damages Kharif Crops
★ Delayed monsoon withdrawal and unseasonal, excess rainfall have caused severe damage to key Kharif crops — particularly paddy, pulses, cotton, and sugarcane — across northwest India. Maharashtra (6.8 lakh hectares affected), Punjab, and Rajasthan are among the worst-hit states.
★ In many regions, harvesting operations have been halted, and overall productivity of major crops such as paddy, pulses, cotton, and sugarcane is expected to decline.
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Maharashtra
★ Nearly half of Maharashtra’s cropped area has been affected by floods and waterlogging.
★ According to the state agriculture minister, of the total 14.4 lakh hectares sown, around 6.8 lakh hectares have suffered damage due to heavy rains.
★ The crop inspection report for September is in its final stage, and a relief package will be announced next week.
★ All major Kharif crops — soybean, maize, cotton, urad, tur, moong, jowar, bajra, and sugarcane — have been impacted.
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Punjab
★ Preliminary estimates indicate that out of the total 3.2 lakh hectares under Kharif crops, about 0.5 lakh hectares have been affected by flooding.
★ The state government has started distributing free wheat seeds to farmers for the upcoming Rabi season.
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Rajasthan
★ Unseasonal rainfall over the past month has damaged already-harvested crops due to moisture exposure in the fields.
★ The state government has announced that under the crop insurance scheme, farmers will be compensated for crop losses occurring within 14 days of harvest.
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West Bengal
★ In India’s largest rice-producing state, West Bengal, recent rainfall has had a mixed impact.
★ While rains have supported crop growth in several areas, waterlogging in others has raised concern.
★ Future impact will depend on weather conditions in the coming days.
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Nationwide Situation
★ During the June–September monsoon season, India received 108% rainfall of the Long Period Average (LPA), indicating above-normal precipitation.
★ Monthly distribution was: June – 109%, July – 105%, August – 109%, and September – 115%.
★ According to the India Meteorological Department, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over the next two days.
★ In August, continuous heavy rains in Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana also impacted crops like paddy, cotton, bajra, maize, and gram.
★ Due to the widespread crop damage, **overall Kharif output is expected to decline, which may lead to a rise in market prices of key commodities.