Assam: Farmers suffering from rainfall shortage; paddy fields parched

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: There has been some respite for the people in some places of the state, including Guwahati, following intermittent rains on Monday, as the mercury dipped to more comfortable levels after the scorching heat experienced on Sunday.

However, the farmers in several districts have been left high and dry from the lack of enough rainfall essential for sowing of paddy seedlings, waiting for more propitious conditions to sow their fields.

As a matter of fact, as of July 9, 2025, the state recorded a deficit rainfall of 33% in the ongoing monsoon season.

On Sunday, several places across the state experienced abnormally high temperatures, including Guwahati. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 38.4 degrees Celsius, which was the season's highest maximum temperature so far. Following a sharp spell of rain in the afternoon today, the mercury dropped by several notches, bringing relief to the city's residents.

This is the main season for sowing of paddy seedlings, being the end of the Assamese month of Aahar. But farmers in several districts like Kamrup, Bongaigaon, Nalbari, Nagaon, Bajali, some parts of BTR, Darrang, Dhemaji, Sivasagar, etc., are unable to plant the saplings due to lack of adequate water. It is an established fact that farmers in Assam depend on the rain god, with defunct irrigation schemes in some places and non-existent irrigation systems in others.

The deficit in rainfall has only compounded their problem. Farmers had to resort to traditional belief systems like frog marriages to appease the rain god. Such a marriage of amphibians, with Mangalik rites, was conducted last night at Naptapara near Sipajhar in the Darrang district.

The IMD's Regional Meteorological Centre at Guwahati issued a forecast for Tuesday-Wednesday (valid from 8.30 AM on Tuesday to 8.30 AM on Wednesday), which says, "Moderate rain is very likely to occur at many places over Assam. Maximum temperatures are likely to fall by 2 to 3 degrees over Assam."

The forecast was followed by a warning for the same time period, which said, "Thunderstorms & lightning are very likely to occur at isolated places over Assam. Heavy rain is very likely to occur at isolated places over Assam."

The maximum temperature in Guwahati saw a significant dip on Monday after sharp showers lashed the capital city. The maximum temperature today dropped to 34°C, from 38.4°C on Sunday. The maximum temperatures recorded today in some other towns--Dibrugarh 37.3°C, Jorhat 36.9°C, North Lakhimpur 38.6°C, Silchar 33.6°C, and Goalpara 32.4°C.

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