This year, the monsoon has arrived late in several parts of India, and for farmers, that changes everything. When the rains are delayed, it’s not just the soil that waits; its entire villages, families, and seasons that are put on hold.

Across central and eastern states, farmers are adjusting to the unexpected pause. According to the Hindustan Times, sowing is falling behind the usual pace. In Maharashtra, only about 69% of last year’s sowing area has been covered so far. In Bihar and Jharkhand, where more than half the population depends on rain-fed farming, sowing is currently at just 55–60%.

For these farmers, a late monsoon isn’t just a shift on the calendar; it means deciding whether to wait for more rain, choose different seeds, or prepare to plant shorter-duration crops that can still make the most of the season.

Yet, the work continues. Farmers are listening to weather updates, sharing advice, and staying ready. They know the rains will come; it’s just a matter of when. And when they do, the fields will welcome them, and the season will find its rhythm again.

Fields waiting for the rain

On a typical June morning in the Beed district, the sun beats down hard on the cracked and dry soil, awaiting rain that hasn’t come. The situation has left many farmers in limbo, hesitant to plant and watching the sky more than the field.

Parmeshwar Thorat, an avocado farmer from Beed, explains how difficult this season has already been. “We were prepared to begin sowing in early June, but the rains just didn’t arrive. Every day of delay puts more stress on the plants and on us,” he says.

“If it doesn’t rain on time, I have to postpone everything, from fertilising to irrigation. The delay messes with the flowering cycle, and that means lower yields,” he adds. “It’s not just about one crop; it affects the income for the entire year.”

Without consistent rainfall, the soil’s moisture levels........

© The Better India