Farmers' Concerns Mount Amidst Intense Pre-Monsoon Heat

18-May-2026 05:11 PM

New Delhi. Although the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the Southwest Monsoon is likely to arrive in Kerala five days ahead of its scheduled time—specifically on May 26—it has also forecast that, prior to this, severe heat conditions and significantly high temperatures will prevail across various parts of the country until May 21–22. Nearly half of India is currently grappling with this scorching heat, and even in mid-May, the weather feels distinctly like June. While the common man is distressed by gusts of hot wind, moisture is simultaneously vanishing from the soil in the fields.

Due to a shortage of chemical fertilizers, the potential impact of the El Niño weather cycle, and dwindling water levels in dams and reservoirs, a grave threat looms over the Kharif crops this year. Furthermore, the intense heat preceding the monsoon is fueling growing anxiety among both farmers and the government alike.

The implication is clear: until substantial rainfall occurs, farmers will face difficulties in commencing the sowing of Kharif crops. Mere monsoon showers will not prove sufficiently effective; while such showers may cool the parched earth, they will fail to infuse the soil with adequate moisture. For that, torrential rain will be required. For paddy cultivation, it is essential that water accumulates in the fields.

Similarly, the sowing of pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals, and cotton is feasible only in fields with adequate moisture; otherwise, the problem of poor seed germination will persist. The sugarcane crop, too, requires good rainfall. Anticipating the impending crisis, the government has already imposed a ban on sugar exports; other policy decisions may also be forthcoming.