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Agriculture
Rainfall deficit and soaring temperatures postpone Rabi sowing in Rajasthan
✍️ Business Standard
🗓 02 Nov 2026, 05:01 PM
👁 29
A shortfall in monsoon rainfall combined with unusually high temperatures has delayed the start of Rabi crop sowing across Rajasthan, raising concerns among farmers.
The Rajasthan agricultural calendar has been disrupted as insufficient monsoon rainfall this year has left soil moisture levels below the threshold needed for timely Rabi sowing. Simultaneously, temperature readings across the state have risen well above the usual range for this period, further hampering seed germination prospects.
Farmers in key districts such as Jodhpur, Bikaner and Alwar report that they have been forced to postpone planting wheat and mustard, the two main Rabi crops, by several weeks. The delay compresses the window for optimal crop development and could affect overall yields if the trend continues.
State agricultural officials have warned that the combined effect of moisture deficit and heat stress may increase reliance on irrigation and raise production costs. Extension services are urging growers to adopt heat‑tolerant seed varieties and to monitor soil moisture closely before sowing.
Experts note that while the monsoon deficit is a seasonal anomaly, the pattern underscores the growing vulnerability of rain‑fed agriculture to climate variability. Continued monitoring of weather patterns will be crucial to guide any corrective measures before the next sowing cycle begins.
Farmers in key districts such as Jodhpur, Bikaner and Alwar report that they have been forced to postpone planting wheat and mustard, the two main Rabi crops, by several weeks. The delay compresses the window for optimal crop development and could affect overall yields if the trend continues.
State agricultural officials have warned that the combined effect of moisture deficit and heat stress may increase reliance on irrigation and raise production costs. Extension services are urging growers to adopt heat‑tolerant seed varieties and to monitor soil moisture closely before sowing.
Experts note that while the monsoon deficit is a seasonal anomaly, the pattern underscores the growing vulnerability of rain‑fed agriculture to climate variability. Continued monitoring of weather patterns will be crucial to guide any corrective measures before the next sowing cycle begins.