Kharif relief and monsoons: Early rains mean early gains

India Today

2 days ago

The monsoon arrived early this year, nine days ahead of schedule. In most years, monsoons hit Kerala by June 1 and reach the rest of India by July 8.This time, by late June, however, rains had reached the entire country, triggering a fast start to India's kharif sowing season.For a nation where nearly half of farming still depends on rain, the early downpour matters. Early and widespread rains in June helped Indian farmers sow more land with key kharif crops. Rice, pulses, and oilseeds showed sharp jumps. Overall, kharif acreage rose 11 per cent compared to last year by the end of June.advertisement
Why it matters: More timely sowing can mean better crop yields. Good rains also support rural incomes and economic demand. Rainfall is 'above normal' if it's 5–19 per cent more than average.In numbers:Half of India's farms rely on monsoon rainsMonsoon usually hits Kerala by June 1 and covers India by July 8June rains were nearly nine per cent above normal; July expected to hit 108 per cent of average11.3 per cent rise in total kharif area from last year47 per cent jump in rice sowing (3.5 million hectares)In-depth: June began with a strong monsoon push. Southwest monsoons arrived in most parts of India ahead of time, reaching Kerala on May 24 and parts of Maharashtra, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh by May 26, earlier than usual. Total rainfall in June was more than eight per cent above normal, which helped farmers sow earlier in many states.advertisementRice saw the biggest gains. Bihar, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and eastern Uttar Pradesh started rice transplanting quickly. Pulses like urad and moong nearly doubled. Groundnuts also saw a sharp rise due to good early rains and past procurement.Rainfall in western and central India was strong. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat recorded excess or large excess, which supported the sowing of coarse grains, soybeans, maize, and cotton. However, cotton acreage was still 8.6 per cent lower, with hopes of a pickup later in the season.Some southern states saw weaker rainfall after early gains. Telangana and coastal Andhra received less rain, while Karnataka and Tamil Nadu got normal rainfall.Big picture: Southwest monsoons this year have been stronger and timelier than in recent years. June 2025 brought 42 per cent more rain than usual to northwestern India, drenching Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Only eastern UP, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh received normal rainfall.Central India experienced a 25 per cent surplus rainfall, accompanied by heavy showers across Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Southern states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, received near-normal rainfall, just three per cent below average. But eastern and north-eastern India lagged, with rainfall 17 per cent below normal. Jharkhand and West Bengal had excess rain, while Bihar remained dry.advertisementThe early start allowed faster coverage of agricultural regions. Climate change, however, is making monsoon swings more unpredictable. The number of extreme rainy days has been rising.What they said: 'July rains are expected to be above normal,' said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of IMD. The weather agency expects monsoon rainfall to be 106 per cent of the long-term average. El Nio is not expected this season, easing fears of a rainfall deficit.- EndsTune InMust Watch