Parched lands await first drop of monsoon showers

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New Delhi: The third week of June is almost over and millions of farmers across central and western India are still eagerly awaiting the first monsoon showers that would give a fresh lease of life to their parched lands—and their lives. India’s South West monsoon, which feeds more than half of the country’s arable lands, has not gained much strength ever since it reached the Kerala coast almost a week before its scheduled arrival date. Not surprising that cumulative rainfall across India from June 1 to June 17 has been 45% below normal, with as many as 28 meteorological sub-divisions of 36 receiving scanty or deficient rainfall and only eight receiving normal showers. Last year, during the same time, 32 sub-divisions had got normal rains and only four had received scanty rainfall.

The possibility of a crisis has got the official machinery moving. On Saturday, a high-powered committee of secretaries held an emergency meeting to take stock of the developing situation. Most experts believe that a delayed monsoon would cripple farm output, which the government can ill afford as it battles to bring the economy out of its current low phase.

Because of insufficient rains, Kharif sowing has been unsatisfactory for most crops, barring paddy and cereals, which have managed to buck the trend. Latest figures, released by the agriculture ministry, show that till June 19, pulses have been sown in around 1.81 lakh hectare, down from 1.88 lakh hectare last year. Oilseeds, which is mostly grown in central and western India, has been sown in 4.14 lakh hectare, down from 5.02 lakh hectare last year. And sugarcane, planted mostly in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh has been sown in around 41.54 lakh hectare till June 19, down from last year’s 42.81 lakh hectare.

In Monsoon Matters we analyse the impact of delayed or low monsoon on main crops grown during the Kharif season and also how it will affect various urban centres, many of them are reeling under acute water shortage. Take for example cotton, one of the biggest cash crops grown during the Kharif season and lifeline for millions of farmers in Vidharbha, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Till June 17, rainfall in Madhya Maharashtra has been 67% below normal, while in Marathwada, southwest monsoon has been 82% below normal. And in Vidharbha and Gujarat, monsoon rains have been 72% and 95% below normal, respectably.