India Sowing Update: July Rainfall Improves, But Kharif Crop Prospects Still Under Concern

There has been a significant improvement in the monsoon rains during the first half of July, which has reduced the deficit largely. The southern, western, and central parts of the country have received above-average rainfall, but the farmers in the northern and eastern regions have suffered from a lack of summer rain. 

Though the sowing of cotton, soybeans, and sugar cane is higher than last year, traders are worried about crop yields after planting was delayed by the suboptimal June rain. The nature of this year’s monsoon has been uneven so far. In some regions, the rainfall was patchy in some areas, but other areas received normal to heavy rains. This has raised concerns about crop yields and output in the recent weeks.

As per fresh reports an extended period of above-average rain in the cotton, soybean and sugar cane belt could negatively impact the country’s food output. A poor monsoon rainfall in June and heavy rains in July have hit almost every summer-sown crop, but rice, cotton and vegetable crops are the worst hit. Bihar, Jharkhand and some parts of West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh states have recorded a rainfall deficit as high as 57 percent. These states are India’s top rice regions in the east. As a result, rice planting has dropped by 19 percent so far this season.

In pulses, poor rainfall in the month of June has adversely affected the sowing of moong and Kharif season urad. As a result, the production of these two crops is estimated lower than previous year. The monsoon contributes nearly 75 percent of India’s annual rainfall, and is the lifeblood of India’s $3 trillion agriculture-dependent economy.

With August month setting in, much will depend on the rainfall pattern and distribution for the next couple of weeks. According to the Skymet, coastal Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, parts of Konkan and Goa, Marathwada, south Gujarat, parts of south Madhya Pradesh, sub–Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim and Assam witnessed light to moderate rain with few heavy spells in the last 48 hours.

 Tamil Nadu, interior Karnataka, coastal Odisha and at one or two places over Bihar, Jharkhand and Gangetic West Bengal, also witnessed light rain during this period.