EDITORIAL - INDIAN HOPES WITH EYES TO THE SKY AS ERRATIC RAINS THREATEN CROPS
INTRODUCTION
India's agriculture is highly dependent on the southwest monsoon, with nearly half the cultivated land being rain-fed. Erratic rainfall—delayed onset, prolonged dry spells, and intense downpours—has disrupted kharif cultivation, threatening crop yields, food security, and farmers' livelihoods.
CHALLENGES POSED BY ERRATIC RAINFALL
Delay in kharif sowing and reduced acreage under paddy, pulses, oilseeds and cotton.
Delayed monsoon onset in Punjab, Haryana and parts of central India often postpones paddy transplantation and reduces sowing of pulses and cotton.
Short, intense rainfall causes floods and runoff instead of adequate soil moisture.
Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have witnessed cloudbursts and heavy rainfall leading to floods and soil erosion rather than benefiting crops.
Increased risk of crop failure, lower farm incomes and agrarian distress.
Marathwada (Maharashtra) has frequently experienced prolonged dry spells, resulting in soybean and cotton crop losses and farmer distress.
Rising food inflation and pressure on national food security.
Poor monsoon conditions in 2023 contributed to reduced production of rice and vegetables, pushing up food prices across India.
Greater uncertainty due to climate change and changing monsoon behaviour.
The 2023–24 El Niño event altered monsoon patterns, causing uneven rainfall and affecting agricultural output in several states.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES & ADAPTATION MEASURES
Promotion of contingency crop planning and climate-resilient agriculture
ICAR's District Agriculture Contingency Plans (DACP) guide farmers to switch crops or adopt alternate practices during delayed monsoons or droughts.
Distribution of drought-tolerant and short-duration crop varieties
Sahbhagi Dhan (drought-tolerant rice) and DRR Dhan 42 (short-duration paddy) help reduce crop losses during erratic rainfall.
Expansion of irrigation through PMKSY and watershed development
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) – Per Drop More Crop promotes drip and sprinkler irrigation to improve water-use efficiency.
Seed reserves, Kisan Credit Cards, crop insurance (PMFBY), and weather advisories
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) compensates farmers for crop losses caused by droughts, floods, or unseasonal rains.
Encouraging crop diversification towards millets, pulses and oilseeds
Promotion of millets (Shree Anna) under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) encourages farmers to shift from water-intensive paddy to climate-resilient crops like ragi and bajra.
WAY FORWARD
Strengthen irrigation infrastructure and micro-irrigation coverage
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and the Per Drop More Crop component promote drip and sprinkler irrigation.
Improve IMD's localized weather forecasting and early warning systems
Mausam and Meghdoot mobile apps provide location-specific weather forecasts and agro-advisories to farmers.
Promote climate-smart agriculture through precision farming and digital advisories
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) promotes climate-resilient farming, while Digital Agriculture Mission supports precision farming using AI, drones, and GIS.
Enhance investment in agricultural research for resilient crop varieties
ICAR has developed climate-resilient varieties such as DRR Dhan 100 (drought-tolerant rice) and Pusa varieties resistant to climatic stress.
Build resilient supply chains, storage facilities, and risk-management mechanisms
PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) provides crop insurance, while the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) supports warehouses, cold storage, and post-harvest infrastructure.
CONCLUSION
Ensuring agricultural resilience requires moving beyond dependence on the quantity of rainfall to improving its effective management. A combination of climate-resilient farming practices, robust irrigation systems, scientific forecasting, and farmer-centric policies is essential to safeguard India's food security and sustainable rural development in an era of climate uncertainty.
QUESTION
India's food security depends not merely on the quantity of rainfall but also on its temporal and spatial distribution. Discuss the challenges posed by uneven monsoon rainfall to Kharif cultivation. Evaluate the effectiveness of government initiatives to build climate-resilient agriculture. (10 Marks, 150 Words)
INTRODUCTION
The Southwest Monsoon contributes nearly 75% of India's annual rainfall and supports around 52% of the net sown area, which remains rain-fed. Hence, food security depends not only on the amount of rainfall but also on its timing, intensity, and regional distribution, especially for Kharif crops.
CHALLENGES OF UNEVEN MONSOON RAINFALL TO KHARIF CULTIVATION
Delayed or erratic onset affects timely sowing of paddy, pulses, and oilseeds, reducing yields.
Long dry spells after sowing lead to moisture stress and crop failure in rain-fed regions.
Excess rainfall and floods cause waterlogging, pest outbreaks, and nutrient loss.
Spatial variability creates regional production disparities, affecting national food availability.
Market volatility due to fluctuating production increases food inflation.
Example: According to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, around 52% of India's cultivated area is rain-fed, making it highly vulnerable to monsoon variability.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES FOR CLIMATE – RESILIENT AGRICULTURE
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): Promotes soil health, water conservation, and climate-resilient farming.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): Expands irrigation through 'Per Drop More Crop' to reduce rainfall dependence.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): Provides insurance against crop losses from extreme weather.
NICRA (ICAR): Develops drought- and flood-resilient crop technologies and climate-smart practices.
Example: PMFBY has insured over 70 crore farmer applications since its launch (Ministry of Agriculture), enhancing farmers' resilience against climatic risks.
CONCLUSION
Strengthening climate-resilient agriculture through irrigation expansion, resilient seeds, weather-based advisories, and risk insurance is essential to ensure stable Kharif production and safeguard India's long-term food security.
SOURCE : https://www.newindianexpress.com/editorial/2026/Jul/09/india-hopes-with-eyes-to-the-sky-as-erratic-rains-threaten-crops#:~:text=It's%20a%20cruel%20paradox%E2%80%94India's,that%20began%20on%20uncertain%20footing