Monsoon Pause Leaves Farmers Anxious and Fields Parched

TDI News Desk 09.06.2025

India’s monsoon arrived three weeks early but has suddenly paused, throwing farmers’ sowing plans into uncertainty. Here’s why it’s worrying—and what comes next.

he southwest monsoon arrived in Kerala on May 24—its earliest onset in over 16 years. But within days, the rains vanished, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) now says widespread showers may not resume before June 11.

For India’s farmers, whose sowing calendar is tightly linked to rainfall, the dry spell has come at the worst time. As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, nearly 47% of India’s arable land is rain-fed, and delays can directly hit planting of rice, cotton, sugarcane, and pulses.

A trade-house dealer based in Mumbai told Reuters, “Farmers are holding off on planting… waiting for the soil to have enough moisture. If rain doesn’t return soon, we’re looking at a 15–20% delay in sowing in rain-dependent belts.”

This isn’t just an agricultural issue—it affects everyone’s grocery bill. A June 6 report in The Hindu stated that vegetable prices surged 45% year-on-year, with cereals and pulses also showing double-digit increases. These price shocks are already showing up in wholesale inflation, now at a nine-month high.

Still, there’s hope. The IMD maintains its forecast of “above normal” rainfall at 105% of the long-period average. According to The Indian Express, a low-pressure system is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal by June 10, possibly reviving monsoon circulation in central and northern India.

On Reddit’s r/India, a popular post read: “If monsoon doesn’t pick up by June 12, sowing will drop by 20% in rain-fed zones.” Comments ranged from anxious to humorous: “My field is as dry as my WhatsApp status updates,” quipped one user. Another wrote, “Waiting for rain like it’s a cricket toss.”

If the monsoon resumes on time, the short delay might not leave lasting damage. But another dry week could change that.

Have you seen rainfall delays or price hikes where you live? Tell us what the monsoon pause means in your part of the country.