Gujarat’s Kharif Crops Are Running Out of Water, What Can Farmers Do Now?

Gujarat is facing a sharp divide in its monsoon. South Gujarat has received substantial rainfall, while Saurashtra and Kutch remain severely dry. By September 7, the state had received 18% less rainfall than normal, with some parts of Saurashtra and Kutch receiving less than 10% of their expected rainfall.

The shortage is now affecting standing kharif crops. Farmers in several districts have reported crop stress, while reservoirs in Saurashtra and Kutch have fallen sharply. The state has extended Narmada water supplies through different irrigation systems to protect crops that are still capable of recovering.

Why the water shortage matters now

September is an important period for many kharif crops. Groundnut, cotton, bajra and pulses are entering stages when water availability can influence grain filling, boll development and final yield. A prolonged dry spell at this point can cause more damage than a similar shortage earlier in the season.

Farmers therefore need to focus available water on crops with the best chance of recovery. Applying small amounts of water across every field may not provide enough moisture to protect any crop properly. Prioritising sensitive growth stages can make limited irrigation more useful.

The situation differs sharply between districts. Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar and Jamnagar have recorded particularly large rainfall deficits, while Kutch has also received far less rain than normal. Farmers should therefore follow district-level advisories rather than applying the same strategy across the entire state.

The rainfall shortage is reflected in smaller reservoirs. As of September 7, the 141 reservoirs of Saurashtra had about 50.04% of their total storage capacity remaining, while the 20 reservoirs in Kutch had only 23.79%. Live storage in Kutch was even lower at 18.19%.

The situation creates a difficult choice for water managers. Irrigation water is needed to protect standing crops, but drinking water supplies must also be secured. Releasing too much water now could reduce the reserve available for households and livestock if September remains dry.

The state has already extended Narmada water supplies. Irrigation water through the Mahi command has been extended for 20 days, supplies through the SAUNI system to Devbhumi Dwarka and Jamnagar have received another 10-day extension, and North Gujarat has received a 15-day extension.

Farmers should use every irrigation carefully

Farmers who receive canal or pipeline water should first identify crops that are still healthy but showing early moisture stress. Such fields may respond better to limited irrigation than crops that have already suffered severe damage.

The timing of irrigation also matters. Farmers should avoid wasting water through leaks, poorly maintained channels or excessive application. Checking soil moisture near the root zone can help determine whether another irrigation is actually required before water is applied.

Farmers without reliable irrigation should consider reducing water loss from the soil. Suitable crop residues can provide surface cover, while timely weed control can reduce competition for remaining moisture. These measures cannot replace rainfall, but they can help crops use available water for longer.

Farmers facing severe crop stress should assess the condition of each field before buying additional inputs. Spending heavily on fertiliser or pesticides will not recover a crop that has already suffered irreversible water stress.

Fields with green plants and developing pods, grains or bolls may still justify additional investment if water becomes available. Farmers should compare crop condition with the expected cost of irrigation before deciding where to spend limited money.

Livestock also needs attention during a prolonged dry spell. Less rainfall can reduce green fodder availability, while drying water sources can increase pressure on livestock owners. Farmers should check fodder stocks and drinking-water arrangements alongside their crop plans.

The current water shortage could affect more than this year’s kharif harvest. Soil moisture remaining after the monsoon will influence rabi sowing, particularly for farmers who depend partly on rainfall or limited irrigation.

India is already expecting below-normal September rainfall. The dry month could reduce soil moisture available for wheat, chickpea and rapeseed planting in areas that depend on residual moisture. Farmers should therefore assess water availability before finalising their rabi crop plans.

Farmers should also avoid assuming that every available field must be planted with the same crop. Where irrigation is limited, crop selection should consider water requirements, soil conditions and local market demand.

What farmers can do this week

Farmers in dry parts of Gujarat should inspect standing crops, identify fields that can still recover and prioritise available irrigation accordingly. They should protect soil moisture, reduce unnecessary input spending and arrange fodder and drinking water before local supplies become tighter.

The Gujarat situation shows why a state’s overall reservoir or rainfall figure can hide serious farm-level problems. Sardar Sarovar remains well supplied, yet several reservoirs in Saurashtra and Kutch are under severe pressure.

For farmers, the immediate priority is to protect the crop that can still be saved. If September rainfall remains weak, careful water allocation will become more important with every passing week. The decisions made now could affect both the remaining kharif harvest and the next rabi season.