India, Sept. 24 -- The southwest monsoon is now in its withdrawal phase, but this year it has failed to provide farmers with rainfall when they needed it most. Farmers in several agriculture-dependent states, particularly those with limited irrigation facilities, are facing unexpectedly long dry spells.

Crop-monitoring data from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare indicate signs of rainfall and crop stress in parts of several states, including Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The situation is highlighted in a briefing prepared by the Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (NCFC) for the Crop Weather Watch meeting held on September 21, 2026. The assessment uses rainfall data, dry...