Crop damage due to excessive rain in Rajasthan: Food shortages 'likely to worsen' over next six months

By Bharat Dogra  

Photo by Kamlesh Sharma

When I reached Udaipur, a friend remarked, “You must be enjoying the cool weather of our city.”  

True—the cool breeze, lush greenery, and waterfalls suddenly appearing in the surrounding hills were uplifting. However, as I soon discovered while visiting several villages in Udaipur and neighboring Salumbar districts of Rajasthan and speaking with farmers and social activists, the outward appearance of pleasant weather was highly deceptive. Excessive late-season rain, sometimes accompanied by strong winds during the ripening of kharif crops, has caused severe damage to farmers.

Manna Lal, a tribal farmer from Rawach village, said that over 50% of his crop—including corn and a local legume called savla—had been ruined.  

Shambhu Singh of Mazam village reported losing over 60% of his crop, including corn, soya, and green chillies.  

Bhunwar Singh, a senior social activist, noted that in his case and among neighboring farmers, nearly 80% of the crop had been lost.

While in some places I was told that the excessive rain might at least benefit the upcoming winter (rabi) wheat crop, Bhanwar Singh warned that in fields submerged by too much water, even the next crop could be adversely affected.

In villages near Udaipur city—a well-known tourist destination—farmers complained that the Aayar River had caused greater damage due to encroachments on high-value riverbank land by wealthy and influential individuals. These encroachments have obstructed the river’s natural flow, reducing its capacity to carry away floodwaters.

The deeper crisis will inevitably be borne by small farmers from marginalized communities, including tribal groups, who already face chronic malnutrition even in normal times. Many are forced to migrate to distant cities in search of livelihood support.

I spoke with several women health workers from Salumbar district who had gathered for a training session. They agreed that food shortages and malnutrition are likely to worsen over the next six months, until the rabi harvest arrives. Distress-driven migration is also expected to rise. They emphasized that the government must strengthen and expand all programs contributing to food security. Free food distribution should exceed current limits and not be denied due to lack of documentation or mismatched thumb impressions. The rural employment guarantee scheme should be scaled up with prompt wage payments, and the anganwadi program for women and child nutrition must be improved.

Additionally, special attention must be given to highly vulnerable households, including those affected by serious illness, disability, or other hardships.

Ram Lal, a health worker who regularly visits villages, recounted visiting a household during heavy rain where three members were suffering from tuberculosis and their fragile dwelling had been flooded. As he said with a note of desperation, “In these circumstances, I did whatever I could, but at times it becomes really difficult to decide on a course of action that would bring lasting relief.”

It is therefore crucial for the government and voluntary organizations to identify such high-need households and ensure they receive targeted food assistance during these times. Well-off city residents should also contribute generously.

The vulnerability of migrant and informal workers to exploitative practices is likely to increase, and protective measures must be strengthened.

As per established procedures, the government has begun its survey and assessment of crop damage. However, smaller and more vulnerable farmers fear their needs may be overlooked, as larger landowners often influence the assessment process in their favor. The government must ensure that small farmers and marginalized groups receive fair compensation or insurance payments for crop losses.

While providing assistance, the government should not neglect landless laborers, tenants, or sharecroppers. Migrant households, especially those headed by women burdened with multiple responsibilities, deserve special attention. According to a preliminary assessment by Rajasthan Patrika on September 8, 22 districts have suffered significant damage, with 15 districts reporting over 50% crop loss.

In regions more accustomed to coping with drought than excessive rainfall, farmers struggle to adapt to such unexpected conditions. This underscores the need for the government to be prepared for increasingly erratic weather patterns in an era of climate change.

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The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Man Over Machine, Planet in Peril, A Day in 2071, and When the Two Streams Met