As the southwest monsoon begins to withdraw, farmers across several parts of India are facing prolonged dry spells and depleted soil moisture.

More than half of the country’s area was under dry or drought conditions as of 16 September 2026, according to the latest assessment by IIT Gandhinagar’s India Drought Monitor, reports Down To Earth. 

The area under dry or drought conditions had risen from 38.9 percent about a month earlier to 52.5 percent. Maharashtra is among the states facing constant drought stress, with Marathwada recording a 36 percent rainfall deficit between 1 June and 20 September.

The concern comes at an important time for farmers. While kharif crops are nearing harvest in many regions, the water left in the soil and reservoirs will also influence the next cropping season. Parts of Maharashtra and other agricultural states have recorded dry spells lasting two to three weeks during the monsoon season.

In Beed, Maharashtra, where arid conditions and water scarcity have long made farming difficult, farmer Parmeshwar Thorat has learnt to work with limited water.

On his 1.75-acre farm, he grows avocados by directing water where it is needed, storing rainwater for the dry months, and preparing the soil before planting. He began experimenting with avocado cultivation in 2018 after learning about the Arka Supreme variety in Bengaluru. He later visited the ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research to understand the crop better.

His experience offers a few practical lessons for farmers looking to protect crops when water becomes scarce.

1. Save water at the........

© The Better India