The Anandha (Bliss) of Rainy Season!

Protecting Petrichor:

How to Save Monsoon in India

Monsoon in India is not another season. It is an emotion, shaping the Indian culture. The monsoon months in India typically range from June to September, when the downpour paints the Indian terrain with a vibrant shade of green and sprays its familiar earthy scent. It is the season that washes off evil and brings a sense of freshness and hope. It is a way for the rain gods to bestow fellow Earthians with peace. Not just that, the rainy seasons protect the equilibrium of nature and keep things balanced.

Don’t you think something so magical must be preserved at all costs?

Climate Change and Indian Monsoon

Unfortunately, the increasing environmental adversities toward Mother Nature have altered the rain spells. Climatological analysis revealed that between the years 1980 and 2022, several Indian districts (like Bengaluru and Delhi) experienced inadequate as well as excessive amounts of rain. It was reported that certain parts of Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and central Maharashtra were drenched with unrestrained showers. It was also noted that there was an almost 90% reduced decline in initial monsoon spells, during June and July, which are crucial for agricultural growth.

The past decade saw dramatic shifts in monsoon in India - 

• increased levels of northeast monsoon in Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh
• abnormal rise of downpours between October and December (not the ideal months of monsoon in India) on the west coast (Maharashtra) and the east coast (West Bengal)
• a sharp spike in rain by almost 9% in October due to the delayed halt of the southwest monsoon, which carries more moisture

How Climate Change Impacts Monsoon in India

Climate change refers to the long-term alterations in global weather patterns. Human-caused activities like deforestation, industry-produced emissions, and burning fossil fuels emit large amounts of greenhouse gases that eventually trap the heat from the sun. This continuous entrapment alarmingly warms the surface of the Earth, leading to global warming that disrupts normal weather conditions like monsoon.

The adversities toward the climate change rainfall patterns. They become unpredictable - rains are delayed and more intense. Some parts of the country endure floods, while others draught. 

The rainy season in India holds an emotional significance. It is directly related to the nation’s oxygen - agriculture. It provides food for the Indians and is also the livelihood of one of the major populations, the farmers.

Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture

The agricultural sector is the beating heart of the Indian economy. About two-thirds of the country is dependent on agriculture. India’s crop fields are rain-fed. Southwest monsoon (June to September) aids in the cultivation of Kharif crops like rice, cotton, jute, oilseeds, and pulses. But with its depletion, the crops take a massive toll. Insufficient rainfall has led to delayed sowing, thereby inflation - agricultural studies report almost a 6% decrease in the production of moong pulses, while a 9% decrease in jowar.  

If we look at the bigger picture - increased costs for farmers (like crop insurance) can lead to higher debt levels and more migration of farmers, disturbing the entire socio-economic structure of the nation. 

Circa 2024 witnessed decreased hydropower capacity due to low rainfall in the southern region of India. This region is a major contributor to about 20% of total hydro energy.

To control the impact of climate change on agriculture in India, steps should be taken to reduce carbon emissions by making smarter food decisions, and to integrate climate-smart farming methods.

What Can Be Done?

Irregular showers during monsoon in India are believed to have if not solely, been caused by the melting of Arctic ice and shocking western climatic shifts. This accounted for drier spells and higher temperatures at night, posing threats to the country’s water management. How India can cope with such a rampant monsoon shift is still an ongoing discussion. But implementations are in place -

• Adapting to the evolving environment is the key forward! Farmers in southern Kerala state have resorted to warm agricultural methods. An organic farming collective is put in place where sowing and harvesting depend on the likelihood of a possible shower. It is pivotal to chalk up an agriculture calendar that documents climate change and the revised farming timings. This can be a massive development in optimal cultivation.

Maintaining a calendar that is in sync with weather forecasts helps farmers harvest efficiently and cut losses.

• Artificial intelligence (AI), the solution to all our problems, can also help farmers with real-time crop monitoring. AI tools can better predict environmental impacts and agricultural results, and help with optimal planting strategies.

• Did you know Bangladesh has mastered floating agriculture? Flood-prone regions during monsoon in India can benefit from this unique strategy. Aquaponics aid in food production that stays resilient toward flood and drought conditions. 

• The root cause behind erratic patterns of monsoon in India is excessive greenhouse gas emissions. Societal solutions include encouraging reforestation, opting for smarter food choices requiring lesser burning, and managing water through irrigation and groundwater recharging. 

Change starts from within. And so, a collective effort should be taken to paint a smile on Indian faces as they dance in the first showers of monsoon. It is a lifeline that marks joy and new beginnings. So let's hold hands and save the monsoon in India, the ultimate gift of God!