Farmers fear crop losses amid dry spell, soaring temperatures

Hubballi, 

An unprecedented pause in the southwest monsoon has pushed large parts of North Karnataka into an emerging agricultural crisis, with thousands of hectares of newly sown crops showing signs of stress amid soaring temperatures and a prolonged absence of rainfall. Agriculture officials, meteorologists and farmers have expressed growing concern as the region continues to experience weather conditions more typical of peak summer than the rainy season.

The dry spell, which has persisted for over a week, comes at a critical stage when recently sown crops require adequate moisture for establishment and growth. According to Manjunath Antaravalli, Joint Director of Agriculture, Dharwad, sowing operations had progressed exceptionally well following the early spell of monsoon rains. Of the district's targeted sowing area of approximately 2.82 lakh hectares, nearly 75 to 80 per cent has already been covered.

“Most of the targeted area under green gram and soybean has been sown. The seeds germinated well after the initial rains, but the prolonged dry spell and high temperatures are now affecting the young plants,” he said. The official noted that farmers with access to irrigation are managing to protect their crops through supplemental watering. However, rain fed farmers remain entirely dependent on the return of the monsoon.

“If the dry conditions continue for another three to four days, the situation could become critical for rain-fed agriculture,” he warned. Agricultural and meteorological expert Dr Ravi H. Patil described the current situation as highly unusual and attributed the prolonged break to a combination of atmospheric factors. According to him, the monsoon's advance has remained virtually stalled since June 8 after making its initial progress into Kerala. High-altitude easterly winds are disrupting cloud formation, while prevailing El Niño conditions are suppressing normal seasonal weather patterns.

“The atmosphere currently lacks any significant weather systems such as low-pressure areas, troughs or cyclonic circulations that typically drive monsoon activity. Meteorologically, the region is experiencing an extension of summer rather than the onset of a normal monsoon,” he explained. Dr Patil warned that the coming week would be crucial. If rainfall does not resume within the next few days, large-scale crop damage could occur across rain-fed areas. The sudden dry spell has left farmers who sowed crops immediately after the initial monsoon showers in a vulnerable position.

In Haveri and neigh bouring districts, maize fields sown three to four weeks ago are showing visible signs of moisture stress. “By late morning, the intense heat causes the crops to wilt significantly. While they appear normal during cooler hours, the lack of soil moisture is becoming a serious problem,” Dr Patil said. He explained that shal low-rooted crops such as maize are particularly vulnerable because their root systems are unable to access deeper moisture reserves.

Gadag prepares contingency measures In Gadag district, sowing has been completed in nearly 50 per cent of the targeted 3.14 lakh hectares. Farmers have predominantly cultivated green gram, which accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the sown area, along with maize and cotton. District Joint Director of Agriculture Chetana Patil said the district has not received rainfall for the past eight days, creating anxiety among farmers who sowed crops following the Rohini rains.