Maharashtra: Govt warns farmers not to rush kharif sowing, wait for monsoon to settle down

However, from May 27 onwards, the monsoon’s progress is expected to slow down, leading to significant changes in the state’s weather.

According to current forecasts, starting May 27, the weather across the state will gradually become dry, with a slight increase in temperatures. By the end of May, most parts of the state—except Konkan—are likely to experience predominantly dry weather, and this condition is expected to persist until at least June 5.

In such a situation, farmers taking hasty decision to sow seeds will stand to lose. Instead, farmers should wait for monsoon to settle down, ensure adequate rainfall before sowing.

According to predictions, there is little likelihood of the monsoon setting in or bringing rainfall to most parts of the state before June 5.

During this period, the monsoon’s advancement may also temporarily halt in other parts of the country.

This year, many parts of the state have already received intense pre-monsoon thunderstorms. However, anticipating an early arrival of the monsoon or acting on false news, farmers (especially those relying on rain-fed agriculture) are urged by the Agriculture Department not to rush into sowing and planting. Since the weather is expected to turn dry, premature sowing could lead to potential losses for the farmers.

Highly placed sources in agriculture department said, “We expect higher rainfall this monsoon. But often farmers rush sowing after a few showers. The trend for last ten years shows there is an increasing gap between two rain period. The long dry spell is detrimental for sowing.”