Stories
Cyclone Arnab Devastates Paddy Crops in UP, Bihar Amidst Erratic Monsoon
- •Cyclone Arnab brought heavy rains and strong winds to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, flooding fields and flattening mature paddy crops.
- •The damage follows an uneven monsoon, with many districts in both states experiencing rainfall shortages earlier in the crop season.
- •Uttar Pradesh's paddy crop was already affected by irregular rainfall, with many districts recording deficient rainfall for much of the monsoon.
- •Heavy rainfall between September 25-28, several times higher than normal in many areas, caused widespread flooding and crop damage.
- •Bihar also faced significant paddy crop losses due to both earlier rainfall shortages and the recent heavy rains from Cyclone Arnab.
Key Questions Answered
Cyclone Arnab brought heavy rainfall and strong winds between September 25 and 28, which flooded paddy fields and flattened standing crops in multiple districts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. This late-season damage followed earlier monsoon rainfall deficits, raising concerns about grain quality, increased risk of infections, reduced yields, and potential delays in rabi sowing.
Prior to Cyclone Arnab, Uttar Pradesh experienced significant rainfall irregularities and shortages. Around half of the state's districts recorded deficient rainfall during at least 13 of the 16 weeks since June, with July paddy transplantation seeing deficits between 20% and 99%, followed by severe shortages during the flowering and grain formation stages in September.
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh faced significant agricultural stress due to deficient rainfall, with nearly half of their districts classified as rain deficient. Additionally, the India Drought Monitor of IIT-Gandhinagar indicated that over half of both states were under dry or drought conditions as of September 23, contributing to broader concerns over India's winter crop prospects.
