Climate Awareness

The monsoon has once again exposed the growing climate imbalance across India. While large parts of the country are struggling with weak rainfall, rising temperatures and the fear of drought, the Northeast is battling the opposite crisis. Relentless rain, overflowing rivers and repeated landslides have turned the season into a test of survival for thousands of families. This striking contrast shows that India is no longer facing a simple problem of too much or too little rain. It is dealing with increasingly unpredictable weather that demands a new approach to planning, farming and disaster management. The India Meteorological Department(IMD) has forecast widespread rainfall across the Northeast, with isolated areas likely to receive very heavy to extremely heavy showers. States such as Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura remain at high risk of floods and landslides. The mighty Brahmaputra and its tributaries continue to threaten low lying areas, while hill districts face the constant danger of landslides that destroy homes, roads and public infrastructure. At the same time, several regions in Northwest, West Central and Southern India are experiencing below normal rainfall. The uneven monsoon has created a strange and troubling situation where one part of the country is drowning while another is waiting desperately for rain. The Northeast itself reflects this contradiction. Floodwaters have submerged more than 1,600 hectares of farmland in districts such as Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Dibrugarh, causing heavy crop losses. Yet many hill districts are facing serious rainfall shortages because the monsoon began with an unusually dry spell. According to drought monitoring reports, almost the entire state of Manipur is experiencing drought conditions, while large parts of Meghalaya and Assam are also under severe moisture stress. In Nagaland, districts such as Longleng and Zunheboto have reported rainfall deficits exceeding ninety percent. With irrigation covering less than one quarter of farmland in many hill areas, farmers are left almost entirely dependent on an increasingly unreliable monsoon. The pattern of alternating dry spells and sudden cloudbursts is equally destructive. Heavy rain falling on dry, fragile slopes triggers landslides, washes away fertile topsoil and damages roads that connect farmers to markets. Even where crops survive, transporting them becomes difficult, reducing incomes and increasing hardship for rural communities. This changing climate calls for more than temporary relief. Governments must invest in long term solutions that make agriculture and rural infrastructure more resilient. Farming practices must also change. Greater use of flood tolerant and drought resistant crop varieties, crop diversification, terracing, contour farming, afforestation and improved soil management will help farmers cope with changing weather. Reliable weather forecasts, early warning systems and district level contingency plans can enable farmers to make better decisions about sowing and harvesting. Equally important is the government’s response after disaster strikes. Crop damage should be assessed quickly through joint surveys, and compensation must reach affected farmers without unnecessary delays. Small and marginal farmers should receive priority through input support, soft loans, insurance settlements and temporary relief from existing debts. Every relief programme must remain transparent, with beneficiary lists made public and regular social audits to ensure accountability. Climate change is no longer a distant warning as it is reshaping the lives of farmers every season. Protecting farmers today means protecting the country’s food security and rural economy for the future.