Key facts
- India recorded its driest June in 12 years, marking the fifth-driest June since 1901.
- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts below-normal rainfall for July.
- Summer crop planting is down 23% year-on-year, with rice sowing down 25%.
- Millions of farmers depend on monsoon rains, which provide about 70% of India's annual rainfall.
- Government rice stocks are at 39.7 million tonnes, nearly three times the buffer requirement.
India has experienced its driest June in 12 years, and the fifth-driest since records began in 1901, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This dry spell has led to a significant drop in summer crop sowing, with planting down by nearly 23% compared to the same period last year. Rice planting has seen a particularly sharp decline of about 25%.
Millions of Indian farmers depend heavily on the seasonal monsoon rains, which typically account for around 70% of the country's annual rainfall, to cultivate their crops. The delayed onset and slow progress of the monsoon this year have hampered field preparation and planting in many agricultural regions.
Experts warn that poor monsoon rains could reduce domestic oilseed production, potentially increasing India's reliance on imported edible oils. However, the monsoon season continues until September, offering a possibility for rainfall to recover and for farmers to catch up on delayed sowing.
Despite the concerns, the government has assured that buffer stocks of rice and wheat are comfortable, with government rice stocks standing at 39.7 million tonnes on July 1, nearly three times the required buffer. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that authorities have identified 315 districts at risk and prepared contingency plans, emphasizing that there is no need for panic.