Farmers remain exposed to timing risks in monsoon onset, where even short delays in rainfall can affect germination and yields of crops such as cotton and groundnut
| Photo Credit:
BALACHANDAR L
The situation is reflected in early-season rainfall data, with the state recording an 83 per cent deficit as of June 16. The shortfall is sharper in Saurashtra, where nine districts have reported a 100 per cent rainfall deficit, indicating an uneven and weak monsoon onset. Sowing has nonetheless begun across parts of Gujarat, with farmers covering 4.27 lakh hectares so far, around 5 per cent of the normal kharif area, led by cotton and groundnut. However, continued delay in rainfall could quickly translate into moisture stress for early-sown crops.
The weak start adds to a broader pattern of climate volatility affecting the state’s agriculture. Government data made public on Tuesday show that Gujarat has paid out ₹22,733 crore in crop-loss relief between FY16 and FY26, reflecting repeated damage from unseasonal rainfall, heavy rain spells and cyclonic disturbances. Relief payouts have been highly uneven over the decade, ranging from ₹279 crore in FY16 to ₹2,906 crore in FY21, before surging to a record ₹10,337 crore in FY26, underscoring the scale of recent weather-related losses.
The pattern suggests weather shocks are no longer isolated events but recurring disruptions across cropping cycles, increasing both farm vulnerability and fiscal pressure on the state. Farmers remain exposed to timing risks in monsoon onset, where even short delays in rainfall can affect germination and yields of crops such as cotton and groundnut. So far, farmers have planted 2.39 lakh hectares of cotton and 1.36 lakh hectares of groundnut, two of Gujarat’s most important crops.
Crop-loss assistance
Government data also shows that around 1.36 crore farmers have received crop-loss assistance over the past decade, highlighting the wide geographic spread of weather-related agricultural damage across the state. However, the figure reflects cumulative beneficiaries over multiple years and includes repeat recipients. Of the total ₹22,733 crore disbursed between FY16 and FY26, nearly 46 per cent was paid out in FY26 alone, underscoring the intensity of crop losses in the most recent season compared with earlier years.
Of the total decade-long relief, ₹15,829 crore has been disbursed through the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), while the state government has contributed ₹6,904 crore from its own budget to support affected farmers. Farmers remain highly exposed to timing risks in monsoon onset, with delayed rainfall posing immediate threats to germination and early crop development, particularly for crops such as cotton and groundnut.
Published on June 16, 2026
