Monsoon enters South Konkan, State advises farmers to defer sowing

The southwest monsoon has arrived in the South Konkan region, but the Maharashtra government has advised farmers against beginning sowing as widespread rain across the State is unlikely before June 15.

The Agriculture and Disaster Management Department has forecast rainfall in parts of Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts until June 9. In other regions of Maharashtra, the monsoon’s progress and rainfall intensity are expected to remain low over the next week.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis posted on X on Sunday, relaying the agriculture department’s appeal: farmers should not rush into sowing based on impending stormy rains. He also advised people to avoid taking shelter under trees, tin sheds, electric transformers, electric poles, and power lines during lightning and thunder.

Parts of Vidarbha, Marathwada, Khandesh, and Madhya Maharashtra may see cloud cover and thunderstorms with rain in the afternoon hours over the coming days. The department noted that this rain will not be sufficient for sowing on a large scale. Farmers have been advised not to begin sowing based only on forecasts of thunderstorms and isolated rainfall.

Temperatures will remain elevated across several parts of the State until at least June 12. Maximum temperatures in Vidarbha and Khandesh may cross 40 degrees Celsius, while Marathwada is likely to see temperatures between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius.

The southwest monsoon entered parts of Konkan last week. Weather officials said its advance through the rest of Maharashtra will likely remain slow in the coming days.