Upcoming agriculture year: Season of scarcity, rich for reform

Crops need water and nutrients for growth and sufficient grain yields. The signals on both fronts aren’t encouraging for the upcoming agricultural year. The India Meteorological Department has forecast a “below normal” southwest monsoon, with nationwide rainfall during June-September at 92 per cent of the long period average for the season. Even if the anticipated El Niño becomes a “strong” event only towards the end of the four-month season, its association with warmer-than-normal winters can also have an impact on the 2026-27 rabi crop, in addition to the one whose planting will start in a month’s time. But more than…