The announcement comes after several parts of Delhi experienced heatwave conditions on Monday, increasing concerns over the prolonged delay in the arrival of seasonal rainfall. According to Dr. Kumar, strengthening weather systems are now creating favorable conditions for the monsoon to regain momentum after remaining sluggish for several days.
The India Meteorological Department stated that the southwest monsoon has already advanced further into parts of Madhya Pradesh, the remaining regions of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Bihar, along with parts of Uttar Pradesh, most areas of Uttarakhand, and sections of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. The department said cloud systems over the northwest Bay of Bengal have strengthened significantly, while a low-pressure area is likely to develop around July 3, accelerating monsoon activity across central and northwestern India.
With the revival of monsoon conditions, the weather department has forecast an active rainfall phase across central India throughout the week. Very heavy rainfall is expected at isolated locations over Konkan between July 2 and July 4, the ghat regions of Madhya Maharashtra on July 2 and July 3, and South Gujarat on July 3 and July 4.
The southwest monsoon reached the Kerala coast on June 3, arriving three days later than its normal schedule. However, its progress slowed considerably afterward, with almost no significant advancement recorded between June 10 and June 21. The delayed movement has resulted in a severe nationwide rainfall deficit during the crucial early monsoon period.
According to official data, India received only 92.2 millimeters of rainfall between June 1 and June 29 against the normal average of 157.7 millimeters, resulting in a rainfall deficit of 42 percent. Central India has recorded the highest deficiency at 54 percent, followed by East and Northeast India at 41 percent. South Peninsular India has experienced a rainfall deficit of 28 percent, while Northwest India has recorded 30 percent below-normal rainfall.
The weak monsoon has emerged as a major concern because the delay coincides with the ongoing kharif sowing season in several states. Insufficient rainfall could adversely affect agricultural production, particularly in rain-fed farming regions that depend heavily on seasonal precipitation.
To address the potential agricultural impact, the Agriculture Ministry has prepared a comprehensive contingency plan covering 315 vulnerable districts across 12 states. Speaking exclusively to NDTV on Sunday, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the government has identified 111 districts that are expected to face the most severe impact from El Nino conditions, although more than 300 districts could ultimately be affected.
The minister stated that the identified districts have already been communicated to the respective state governments, which have been instructed to remain fully prepared to provide employment wherever farming activities or rural livelihoods are affected under the employment guarantee scheme. He emphasized that preparations must remain proactive as weather conditions continue to be monitored closely.
According to the Agriculture Ministry, out of the 315 vulnerable districts, 111 have irrigation coverage below 25 percent, making them highly dependent on rainfall. Another 76 districts have irrigation coverage between 25 percent and 50 percent, while 128 districts have relatively better irrigation support through dams and other water resources.
Most of the vulnerable districts are located across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Bihar, Jharkhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. The Central Government has already conducted meetings with agriculture ministers and district collectors from these states, directing them to strengthen preparedness measures before any prolonged rainfall deficiency develops.
Under the supervision of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, District Agriculture Contingency Plans have been prepared for all 315 districts. These plans recommend alternative crop selection, revised sowing schedules, and improved water management strategies to minimize agricultural losses in the event of deficient rainfall.
The Central Government has also established an El Nino Monitoring Cell and a Crop Weather Monitoring Group in Delhi to continuously monitor monsoon progress, sowing patterns, crop conditions, and the availability of agricultural inputs. State governments have been instructed to establish dedicated control rooms and appoint nodal officers to ensure better coordination with the Centre.
The Agriculture Ministry has placed special emphasis on promoting pulses, millets, and oilseeds because these crops perform comparatively better under low-moisture conditions. States have also been advised to shift to alternative crops if rainfall remains delayed for an extended period and to expand the coverage of the Pradhan Mantri Crop Insurance Scheme in vulnerable districts to ensure timely compensation for farmers facing crop losses.
In addition, state governments have been directed to accelerate the distribution of Kisan Credit Cards so that farmers can access financial assistance for re-sowing and other agricultural requirements. The ministry is also preparing contingency plans to transport fodder from surplus regions to areas that could experience shortages if the southwest monsoon continues to remain weak.
The expected arrival of the southwest monsoon in Delhi and its renewed advance across northern India offers significant relief after weeks of delayed rainfall. However, with the country still facing a substantial rainfall deficit and the agricultural sector entering a critical phase, both meteorological and agricultural authorities remain on high alert as they continue monitoring weather developments and implementing preparedness measures across vulnerable regions.
About The Author
.jpg)
Comment List