Unpredictable weather leaves farmers helpless in Jhansi and Chhatarpur

In Koti village of Jhansi district, Uttar Pradesh, Balram sowed wheat on his 8 acres of land. According to him, early rainfall and sleet rain in March had spoiled ninety per cent of his crops this year. On the contrary, last year in July, Balram had sowed peanuts but it didn’t rain in the month of July,  leaving them to bear the damage of the crop.

“My mother kept praying for the rain last year, we had no choice but to wait… we are now forced to look for alternative sources of earnings. It is almost impossible to predict when the weather will turn like this, ” he laments to Ground report.

According to him, he incurred a loss of approximately 1.5 lakh rupees, out of which he has only received 34,000 rupees as compensation. Many farmers from the village are yet to receive any compensation.

“Our MP Anurag Sharma visited the village after the crop losses and promised for a 100% compensation, but we are still waiting for it,” Balram said.

Around 60% of Bundelkhand's population is engaged in agriculture– as cultivators or labourers. And, the irregular monsoon has severely impacted the region’s farmers over the decades. 

Higher intensity, fewer days of rainfall

The annual rainfall in the Bundelkhand region in the present century has been about 95 cm. Of this, nearly 85 cm, is in over just four months–June to September – in 40 effective rainy days. The remaining 10 cm falls in another 6 days, within the remaining eight months. 

Out of the total 85 cm of monsoon rainfall in Bundelkhand, about 40 cm, with an average of 2 cm per hour, may fall in just 20 hours. On some occasions, the intensity goes up to 3-5 cm per hour, each spell lasting for 15 minutes to half an hour. As a result, rainwater in Bundelkhand doesn't have as much time as rainfall in other humid tropical regions to seep into the soil and replenish groundwater.

The analysis concludes that though the intensity of the rainfall has increased, the number of rainy days is decreasing, which means, a lesser number of days of rainfall with higher intensity in a year.

In 2018, an analysis by a local NGO, “Apna Talab Abhiyan”, pointed up some clear facts concerning the rainfall in the region. It is concluded that,

“The very character of rainfall in Bundelkhand has changed and it is not helping the farmers whether deficit or excess. At the beginning of 2018, it rained well at the time of sowing but did not take a break to let farmers plough the field. Then, there was a lull period. Finally, when it was harvesting time, it rained heavily destroying the crops. The twin threats of droughts and floods, and the uneven distribution of rains when it does come have wreaked havoc in the region.”

Farmers in stress

Gudda Anarath, another farmer from the same village also lost his wheat crops due to early rainfall in March. 

“Some family members now have left for cities to work as labourers… I have taken a loan to meet the daily needs as nothing was left for us this year,” he said.

His family of 19 members rely on their 10 acres of agricultural land for livelihood with his 5 brothers working along with him. Now, he has a loan of Rs. 50,000 to sow peanuts. But, he has the same fear as Balram of non-timely rainfall.

“It is a risk, if the groundnut crops fail this August, I do not know how I will ever repay the loan,” Anarath added. Compared to last month, this month till today has received 200 mm of rainfall which is normal. Farmers hope for better rainfall for their Kharif crops of soybeans, ground nuts and peanuts. The cumulative rainfall for the year however is still at 542.4mm, which is 7% lower than the normal.

In another district of Bundelkhand in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur the situation is no different from Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh. In Naad village of the district, Balram Singh lives in a family of six with his wife, son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. His son has migrated to work as a labourer in different cities. He told,

“He has to do other work to survive, farming today with small farmlands is no longer a work that can get you through life.”

Singh owns a land of two acres where he has sown groundnuts and sesame seeds in an acre each, last month. Before this, he grew wheat, peas, mustard seeds and chana in rabi season. In March, his crops were damaged and according to him,

“We were promised compensation when a few political leaders visited us after the damage but I have not received any money.”

Last year, between June and August, Chhatarpur received 18% less rainfall than normal, IMD data shows. According to an analysis of the rainfall trends for the period of 1981 to 2020, except Sagar district, the other 12 districts show a decreasing annual rainfall trend for the period. Jhansi, Chritrakoot, Chhatarpur, Panna and Damoh show a decreasing pre-monsoon rainfall trend. In an alarming finding the study notes the annual and southwest monsoon following a declining trend. 

“Despite having land and human resources with untimely rainfall, we are now forced to work as labourers as well,” added Singh.

How does the future look from here?

The Bundelkhand region of UP and MP experienced drought every 16 years in the 18th and 19th centuries, which increased to almost every five years during the period 1968 to 1992 and has now become an annual feature. 

According to a study commissioned by the state government, by 2030, Bundelkhand, the arid region of Uttar Pradesh, might have run out of water. This could result in the agrarian population migrating further towards other cities and districts in search of a livelihood if the current groundwater situation persists there.

The crop failure in the Rabi season for farmers like Balram and Anarnath also increases the burden of sowing crops for the next Kharif season. They believe if the rabi season fails, it will impact their next season. Balram also informed that many farmers in his village are yet to receive any compensation for their crop losses. Therefore, the situation demands proper compensation and security for the farmers. 

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