The findings reveal that the primary causes of crop damage were drought, irregular rainfall including excessive or non-seasonal rains, and early withdrawal or late arrival of the monsoons. Rice, vegetables, and pulses were particularly affected by uneven rainfall. In the northern states, paddy fields often remain submerged for more than a week, destroying newly planted seedlings.
The fact that over one in three marginal farmers had to cope with extreme weather events at least twice in a period of five years means their earning capacity from agriculture has been seriously constrained. While farmers seemed to have adapted to extreme temperatures, the most significant impact on them has been due to excessive or unseasonal rains, prolonged winter conditions, droughts and floods.
Presentation- Dibyabharati Nayak
