Kerala’s agriculture sector reels under severe rain deficit

A relentless summer has taken a firm hold across Kerala, pushing the State into a period of extreme climate distress. The brutality of the heat is made all the more unbearable by the missing summer rains. Between March 1 and April 21, Kerala recorded an overall rainfall deficit of 38%, though the shortage is significantly more severe in districts such as Palakkad (66%), Malappuram (60%), Kollam (54%), and Idukki (54%). During this window only Kannur, Kozhikode and Pathanamthitta received normal rains leaving most of the State parched.

As the mercury climbs and the clouds remain empty, the missing rains have turned a difficult season into a full-blown crisis for farmers who rely on summer showers to sustain their livelihoods. According to farmers in Palakkad, the vast paddy fields and other crops are struggling to survive. “Most of the summer crop is currently in the critical tillering stage, a period where the plants require consistent moisture and moderate temperatures to thrive. Instead, they are being battered by extreme heat that stunts growth and shrivels the stalks,” says Murali, a farmer from Alathur.