Indian environment and agriculture independent media
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Down To Earth · India · India's 2026 monsoon records driest June in 146 years, kharif at risk
Granular analysis of kharif sowing area by crop: cotton dropped from 972,000 to 751,000 hectares by June 5 (a 23% fall year-on-year); rice was marginally ahead; soil moisture deficits across Odisha, Maharashtra, and Gujarat raised farm-stress risk and prompted calls for contingency crop planning.
“Kharif 2026 sowing gets off to slow start as El Nino casts shadow over the monsoon; cotton area down 23% year-on-year in early data.”