Farmers in Mahoba, in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh, sowed crops meant for a dry monsoon this year and then watched them rot in waterlogged fields, Mongabay India reported.
Ahead of the 2026 southwest monsoon, Mahoba's Krishi Vigyan Kendra advised farmers to plant low-water crops such as sesame, groundnut and urad, expecting a weak monsoon under one of the strongest El Nino events on record. The contingency plan of ICAR-ATARI gave similar advice. In June the agriculture ministry listed Mahoba among 111 high-priority districts with irrigation coverage below 25%.
The monsoon arrived nearly 20 days late and was deficient for much of the season. Then heavy rain hit in late August, and by 15 September much of the farmland was under water. Mahoba received 1,127 mm between 1 June and 30 September, about 90% above its normal 588.4 mm, according to the India Meteorological Department.
Uttar Pradesh had its wettest monsoon in 18 years, said Atul Kumar Singh, a scientist at IMD Lucknow, while India as a whole received 759.4 mm, its fourth-lowest monsoon rainfall since 2001. The Centre declared drought in five states, including Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Telangana.
"At the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in July, we were told to plant more sesame, groundnut and urad. But God decided to flood our fields instead," said Jaidevi, who farms three bighas in Chandpura village. Another farmer, Sampat, said the kharif crop due for harvest in October had rotted entirely.
Tenant and small farmers face further hurdles in claiming compensation, because land ownership, documents and slow claim processing decide who gets insurance support. The widening gap between seasonal forecasts and local weather is making it harder for farmers to plan by the crop calendar.
Source: Mongabay India
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