June 20, 2026
While the harvest has started on a limited scale, it is expected to pick up momentum within a few days
The total district collection stood at only 95.6 tonnes as of May 7, far below the target of 21,349 tonnes, authorities say
Farmers report that even offering double the usual pay no longer guarantees a farmhand
Farmers are seen harvesting half-ripe paddy in waist-deep water to salvage what's left
The Met Office has issued two special warnings on upcoming heavy rain and Nor’wester storms
Parts of the wheat belt in Shaanxi, Henan hit hard by hot, dry weather and some farmers report that harvest has been at half than usual levels
The monsoon, the lifeblood of the country's $4 trillion economy, delivers nearly 70% of the rain that India needs to water farms and replenish aquifers and reservoirs
In the northern district of Gaibandha, farmers are busy harvesting Boro rice from the paddy fields. While many continue to cut the paddy by hand, in some areas, combine harvesters run through the fields.
