Pre-monsoon season emerging as new high-risk period for crops
Since childhood, I have witnessed farmers waited for the monsoon. Even they pray for it.
Few places, even festivals are designed around it for timely monsoon onset.
But that rhythm is now shifting.
A analysis by Down To Earth highlights that the pre-monsoon season is emerging as a high-risk period for crops.
In several regions, pre-monsoon temperatures have increased by 1°C to 3°C, while the number of heatwave days has gone up over the past few decades.
At the same time, nearly 60–70% of districts are witnessing more erratic rainfall patterns, including delayed monsoon.
This means the window that farmers once used for preparation has now become a phase of exposure and uncertainty.
Change is already visible in farmers’ fields. The early growth stage of crops, which is highly sensitive, is now facing higher evapotranspiration losses-often 15–25% more soil moisture loss under elevated temperatures.
As a result, germination rates can drop significantly, and young seedlings struggle to survive.
Even a 7–10 day delay in monsoon arrival can disrupt the entire cropping cycle, especially for rainfed farmers.
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The challenge today is not just lower yields, but the growing unpredictability of the first step in farming, when to sow.
In this context, Natural Farming practices, particularly Pre-Monsoon Dry Sowing (PMDS), are proving to be highly relevant.
PMDS enables farmers to sow seeds ahead of the monsoon using existing soil moisture, reducing dependence on exact rainfall timing.
Fields managed under Natural Farming often show improved 20–30% better moisture retention, which helps crops withstand early heat stress.
Stronger root systems develop earlier, allowing crops to access deeper moisture.
This not only improves germination but also reduces the risk of complete crop failure during dry spells.
Instead of relying on a single rainfall event, farmers are able to stabilize their cropping system.
What we are witnessing is not just a change in climate, but a shift in the timing and nature of agricultural risk.
The pre-monsoon period is now a critical stage that can determine the success or failure of a crop.
Approaches like PMDS are no longer optional innovations, they are becoming essential adaptations.
Original Article link below: https://lnkd.in/gFec25Jw#ClimateChange #NaturalFarming #PreMonsoon #Premonsoondrysowing #SustainableAgriculture #PMDS #FarmerResilience
Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.
