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Informist, Wednesday, Jul. 8, 2026

MUMBAI – Pointing to the narrowing monsoon rainfall deficit, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said he hopes farmers will accelerate kharif sowing as rainfall has gained momentum this month. As of Friday, all-India kharif sowing was 21% down on year at 35.09 million hectares, with the delayed onset of the monsoon particulary affecting soybean and cotton sowing. 

After recording 40% rainfall deficit in June, monsoon rainfall has improved in July, with the overall rain deficit for Jun. 1-Jul. 7 narrowing to 17%, India Meteorological Department data showed. Chouhan said several parts of the country have received good rainfall in recent days, resulting in the number of rainfall-deficient districts declining from 262 to 178.

Amid uncertainty around the progress of the monsoon and its spatial distribution due to the impact of El Nino, the Centre has been conducting weekly reviews to prepare comprehensive plans for kharif cultivation. "The Centre is maintaining close monitoring of the situation in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Bihar, Jharkhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, West Bengal, and Odisha," Chouhan said.

He said farmers have been advised to cultivate short-duration and low water-intensive crops such as maize, bajra, and moong to minimise the impact of delayed rainfall.  End 

Reported by Afra Abubacker

Edited by Avishek Dutta

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