‘Delayed monsoon will affect kharif crop’

EXPERTS SAY Farmers likely to face water shortage because of delayed showers. Besides, late produce may affect their earnings

LUCKNOW: The delay in southwest monsoon will cause maximum loss to farmers in the northern states, according to agricultural experts. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast the arrival of monsoon on June 6, after a delay of six days. It is expected to reach northern states by June 15.

“Rains will have an adverse effect on the kharif crops in UP and other districts of the plains,” said Diwakar Seth, a Delhi-based farm analyst. “The delay will affect the farmers in two ways. First, the farmers will face shortage of water because of delayed rains. Second, they will have late produce that will affect their earnings.”

The southwest monsoon remains the only source of water for agriculture for most farmers across India and thus has a direct impact on the produce. The impact is more on kharif crop, which is sown in June and harvested by October, said experts.

“Most kharif crops like paddy and maize require more water that is supplemented by the monsoon.

If this doesn’t happen, farmers will face huge difficulty in sustaining their kharif crops,” said Biswas Ghosh, a former scientist of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR).

According to the IMD, the delay in monsoon will be caused by El Nino that impacts cloud formation. As per this, El Nino will also impact the quality of monsoon, resulting in less rainfall in certain regions.

Considering this, the ICAR has started alerting the farmers regarding the monsoon and guiding them about measures that could reduce their losses. This is being done by the Krishi Vigyan Kendras spread across the country, according to ICAR officials.

However, experts are of the view that these measures will not be enough to mitigate the losses. “One can only warn farmers about the delayed monsoon, but nobody can compensate the lack of rainfall,” said Diwakar Seth.