India - Another spell of unseasonal rains coming up, more crop damage likely

10.03.2023 1022 views

Unseasonal rains are likely to come up for central and southern parts of the country during next week. Scale and intensity of weather is likely to cause extensive damage to the standing crops over many parts of the country. Dissonant weather conditions will stay longer both in space and time, as compared to the recent spell, earlier this week. 

During the run-up-to Holi, unseasonal rain and thundershowers smashed crops in substantial parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra between 06th and 08th March.  Strong winds and hailstorm literally decimated some pockets beyond recovery.  Lodging of most Rabi crops in some of the districts left anxious concern for both,  small and big farmers. To mitigate losses, state governments have ordered survey to assess the gauge of calamity.

Madhya Pradesh was the most ravaged state where nearly 18 districts were distressed, mostly located on the western half of the state, including capital city Bhopal.  Most grieved  districts included Mandsaur, Shajapur, Neemuch, Raisen, Rajgarh, Sehore, Guna, Dhar, Alirajpur, Barwani, Vidhisha, Bhopal, Ujjain and Sagar. Intense hailstorm activity lashed Dewas, Raisen, Chhindwara and Seoni.  Southern districts of Rajasthan and some eastern parts covering Dholpur, Dungarpur, Sarwad and Jaisalmer experienced inclement weather activity.  Five districts of Maharashtra, Thane and Palghar on the coast and Washim, Nashik and Aurangabad faced fury of thunderstorm and strong winds. These are crucial  locations where harvest has just commenced or it is round the corner.

Another painful  spell of thunderstorm and hailstorm is making advances. To add insult to the injury, rough weather conditions are likely over central and southern parts during next week. Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha will be the select target for burdening weather conditions. Out of these, Gujarat and Rajasthan may get away with minor penalties, whereas Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra will face the brunt. Hard hitting weather conditions will extend over Peninsular India covering Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and North Karnataka. 

Interaction between multiple systems will trigger wide spread weather activity over central, eastern and southern parts of the country between 13th and 18th March, albeit in a staggered manner.  Plains of North India may get minimal intrusion of hazardous activity.  Firstly, South Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Marathwada and later Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and North Karnataka will witness fury of lightening strikes and thunderstorms. Hailstorm is quite likely over Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra on 15th and 16th March. Wandering stormy conditions may prove ruinous for some crops. However, the heat stress will ease out during the week from most parts of the country.

Source - https://www.skymetweather.com

28.04.2026

Philippines seeks 500 million USD for engineered bamboo development

The project is currently at the concept stage, with feasibility studies expected to take five to six months and overall preparation about a year. Implementation could begin in 2027, pending loan approval.

28.04.2026

Insurance compensation of 186,000 manats paid to tobacco farmers in Azerbaijan

To date, 186,000 manats of insurance compensation have been paid to farmers and farms in the tobacco industry in Azerbaijan.

28.04.2026

USA - Climate Disasters Are Straining Hawaii’s Insurance System

Frequent and costly disasters are driving up premiums and leaving many properties uninsured or underinsured. 

28.04.2026

Brazil - São Paulo releases R$400 million in rural credit in a record package for farmers, agricultural insurance, machinery, and land regularization

The package announced at Agrishow in Ribeirão Preto combines rural credit, agricultural insurance, land tenure regularization, mechanization, inclusion of women, innovation, and environmental actions, with R$ 455 million in investments aimed at strengthening São Paulo’s agribusiness.

28.04.2026

When will Moldovan authorities announce a call for applications for subsidizing agrarian insurance?

To date, the MAIA Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry has not yet announced the start of the next stage of accepting applications for subsidies under agricultural risk insurance contracts concluded in the fall and winter period. While waiting for this announcement, some insurance companies are being "restrained" in the agricultural segment - they insure only livestock farms and perennial crop plantations of their regular customers.

28.04.2026

USA - USDA just doubled disaster payments, and gave farmers until August 12

SDRP disaster payment farmers 2026 just got a major upgrade. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced on April 24 in Higginsville, Missouri that USDA is raising the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program payment factor from 35 percent to 70 percent. 

27.04.2026

India - Crop Ruined by Parrots is 'Damage by Wild Animals', says HC; Gives Relief

Holding that citizens cannot be forced to bear losses caused by protected wild animals, the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has ruled that denying compensation to a farmer merely because parrots were omitted from a government list would breach principles of equality. 

27.04.2026

The World Bank: Agri-risk management in Bulgaria

CAP has steered Bulgarian agriculture toward greater resilience, but the sector continues to suffer from an absence of a comprehensive risk management strategy and limited research on internal and external risks, the report concludes.