Monsoon Deficit of 43% in June Triggers Contingency Plans for Indian Agriculture
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on June 23, 2026, that the monsoon had delivered 43% below-normal rainfall for June. A high-level meeting with state agriculture ministers was convened to prepare contingency measures.
As of June 24, several states recorded rainfall deficiencies ranging from 20% to 81%. Rajasthan was an exception, with 20% excess rainfall.
India's net irrigated area as a share of net sown area has risen to 59.3% as of 2023-24, leaving 40.7% dependent on rainfall. Irrigation coverage varies by crop: water-intensive crops like sugarcane are highly irrigated, while pulses are largely rain-fed.
The government advised farmers to shift from water-guzzling crops like sugarcane to pulses, which require less water. However, a NITI Aayog study notes that kharif pulses like green gram still need a single 'life-saving irrigation' during early pod formation and remain vulnerable to climate variability due to insufficient irrigation infrastructure. Farmers also cite low harvest prices and high input costs as greater concerns.
Central Water Commission data show reservoir levels in the southern and eastern regions are 14% and 19% below normal, respectively, while other regions have excess storage.
A Care Edge Ratings index assessing state resilience to monsoon variability identifies Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh as most vulnerable due to low irrigation coverage, reliance on water-intensive crops, and limited agricultural diversification.
