UNSEASONAL RAINFALL IN INDIA AND INDIAN AGRICULTURE – A STUDY

Unseasonal rainfall—precipitation outside the expected seasonal window—has become an increasingly frequent and damaging phenomenon in India. This paper explores its causes, characteristics, and multifaceted impacts on Indian agriculture. Using climatological, agronomic, and socioeconomic perspectives, the study examines patterns of unseasonal rainfall in recent years (2023–2025), how they affect crop phenology, yields, farm incomes, input use, and risk profiles, and the coping and adaptation strategies adopted by farmers. It also discusses policy implications, including extension services, insurance, and climate-resilient agricultural planning. The findings reveal that unseasonal rains significantly disrupt cropping cycles, increase post-harvest losses, raise pest and disease risks, and impose heavy income losses—especially for small and marginal farmers. The paper concludes with recommendations to strengthen early warning systems, diversify cropping patterns, improve institutional support, and build climate resilience into India’s agricultural framework.