📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Yann Forget
Agriculture
Rainfall deficit of up to 59% in 12 Madhya Pradesh districts hits soybean and maize
✍️ Amar Ujala · Bhopal
🗓 09 Oct 2026, 03:01 PM
👁 9
Rainfall across Madhya Pradesh fell 4% below normal, with a 12% shortfall in the western region and a 20‑59% deficit in 12 districts, prompting farmers to report maize losses and consider planting chickpeas instead of wheat.
The state’s monsoon this season recorded a 4% drop compared with the long‑term average, while the western belt saw an even sharper 12% decline. In twelve districts the shortfall ranged between 20% and 59%, according to the latest meteorological data.
Farmers in the affected areas reported visible stress on soybean and maize crops, with many noting stunted growth and lower yields. The reduced precipitation has also accelerated the decline of groundwater levels, compounding the water‑stress situation for irrigation.
Given the moisture deficit, several growers said they are contemplating a shift from wheat to chickpea for the upcoming rabi season, as chickpea requires less water and could better match the current soil moisture conditions.
Agricultural officials have warned that continued below‑normal rainfall could tighten the already precarious supply of rain‑fed crops, urging farmers to adopt water‑saving practices and consider drought‑tolerant varieties.
Farmers in the affected areas reported visible stress on soybean and maize crops, with many noting stunted growth and lower yields. The reduced precipitation has also accelerated the decline of groundwater levels, compounding the water‑stress situation for irrigation.
Given the moisture deficit, several growers said they are contemplating a shift from wheat to chickpea for the upcoming rabi season, as chickpea requires less water and could better match the current soil moisture conditions.
Agricultural officials have warned that continued below‑normal rainfall could tighten the already precarious supply of rain‑fed crops, urging farmers to adopt water‑saving practices and consider drought‑tolerant varieties.