A farmer in Barwani was hospitalised on Friday after his banana plantation spread across nine acres was flattened by severe winds and rain, even as over 200 farmers in neighbouring Khargone blocked the Khandwa–Baroda Highway demanding canal water. With the monsoon running nearly 10 days late, Madhya Pradesh is staring at a deepening farm crisis just as the Kharif sowing season gets underway.

The state has recorded a 39% rainfall deficit so far this season, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). While scattered thunderstorms have brought some relief to parts of western MP, the absence of widespread rain has left fields parched and farmers anxious.

Barwani: ₹36 lakh loss, farmer's health deteriorates

In Khadki village of Barwani district, brothers Ambaram and Gangaram watched helplessly as their ready-to-harvest banana crop was flattened by strong winds accompanied by unseasonal rain. Around 1,500 banana plants were destroyed.

The brothers had invested nearly ₹14 lakh in the plantation and estimate their total losses at approximately ₹36 lakh. Ambaram's health deteriorated sharply after the crop was destroyed, forcing his family to rush him to the Rajpur Health Centre.

The family has urged the district administration to conduct an immediate damage assessment and provide compensation.

Khargone: Farmers block highway, bullock carts parked on road

In Khargone district, the delayed monsoon has dried up the Veda, Kunda and Kharak rivers, worsening the water crisis for agriculture. On Friday morning, more than 200 farmers parked bullock carts across the Khandwa–Baroda Highway around 11:30 am, blocking traffic for several hours. Long queues of vehicles formed on both sides as protesters demanded the release of canal water for irrigation. Officials said they were attempting to pacify the agitators while assessing the situation.

Sowing delayed as soil moisture remains inadequate

The absence of adequate rainfall has significantly delayed the sowing of key Kharif crops, including soybean, urad, moong and tur. S.S. Dhakad, Senior Scientist at the Shajapur Krishi Vigyan Kendra, said fields require at least 100 mm (4 inches) of rainfall to achieve sufficient soil moisture for sowing.

He warned that in districts where farmers have already sown soybean despite inadequate rainfall, seeds may fail or deteriorate due to insufficient moisture. "Farmers should wait for adequate rains before planting," he advised.

IMD predicts monsoon entry by June 25; 39 districts under alert

Meteorologist said a cyclonic circulation and three active trough lines over western Madhya Pradesh are triggering thunderstorms and scattered rainfall across parts of the state. Light showers accompanied by thunder and lightning are likely in districts including Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Raisen, Sehore, Vidisha, Guna, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Chhindwara, Seoni, Sagar, Panna, Chhatarpur and Niwari.

Hot weather conditions, however, continue to prevail in Satna, Rewa, Mauganj, Sidhi, Singrauli, Maihar, Katni, Umaria, Khandwa, Khargone and Jhabua.

Meanwhile, the IMD has forecast that the monsoon is expected to enter Madhya Pradesh around June 25, nearly 10 days later than usual. Further updates on the progress of the monsoon are awaited.

Why this matters

The delayed monsoon comes at a critical time for Madhya Pradesh's agrarian economy. With the state heavily dependent on the Kharif season for its agricultural output, any further delay could impact food production and farmer incomes. The Congress-led opposition has criticised the state government's handling of the situation, while the BJP administration has directed district collectors to remain on alert.