The Indian government has warned that kharif crop output faces significant risk when the southwest monsoon rainfall deficit surpasses approximately 10%, according to a written reply by Ramnath Thakur, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, in the Rajya Sabha on July 24, 2026.
Monsoon Deficiency and Kharif Production Sensitivity
Minister Thakur explained that severe southwest monsoon rainfall deficiency has generally been linked to a decline in kharif foodgrain production, particularly when the all-India deficiency exceeds about 10%. He cited major drought and El Niño years such as 1982, 1987, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2015, which recorded rainfall deficits ranging from 12% to 22%, with varying impacts on kharif output. However, the adverse impact has moderated in recent years due to expanded irrigation coverage, adoption of improved and drought-tolerant crop varieties, better weather forecasting and advisories, enhanced input availability and crop management, contingency planning by states, and stronger government interventions. Thakur noted that sowing for kharif 2026-27 is still underway, and the first advance estimates for major kharif crops have not yet been released.
| Year | Rainfall Deficit Range |
|---|---|
| 1982–2015 (selected) | 12% – 22% |
Diversification Pressures on Cotton Acreage
The government also addressed declining cotton production, attributing it primarily to changes in acreage as farmers diversify to more remunerative crops. Pabitra Margherita, Union Minister of State for Textiles, stated in a written reply that cotton production ranged from 352.48 lakh bales in 2020-21 to a provisional 290.91 lakh bales in 2025-26. Despite the drop in output, productivity remained broadly stable between 428-451 kg per hectare over this period. Margherita further reported that international cotton prices rose by about 19%, while domestic S-6 variety cotton prices increased by approximately 18% during the recent period. To augment domestic availability, imports of raw cotton and cotton yarn are undertaken as needed.
Spices Parks: Processing and Export Data
Jitin Prasada, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, detailed the performance of the country's Spices Parks. In a written reply, he said that during 2025-26, 52,986.79 tonnes of spices worth approximately ₹579.06 crore were processed in common processing units and those established by exporters. Additionally, 12,040 tonnes of spices and spice products valued at about ₹201.09 crore were exported or supplied to exporters. A total of 16,235 tonnes of spices worth roughly ₹206.63 crore were stored in Spices Park warehouses. The Spices Board has so far established eight crop-specific Spices Parks across the country.
E-NAM Platform Growth and Interstate Trade
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, provided data on the e-NAM (Electronic-National Agriculture Market) platform. As of June 30, 2026, there were 1.89 crore farmers and 2.78 lakh traders registered on e-NAM. Interstate trade on the platform grew from 563 tonnes valued at ₹37 lakh in 2018-19 to 2,984.3 tonnes valued at ₹14.28 crore in 2025-26. Cumulatively, 28,566 tonnes of inter-state trade has been recorded on e-NAM, worth ₹83.95 crore. Chouhan added that 1,656 mandis from 23 states and 4 union territories have been integrated with e-NAM, including 134 mandis integrated between January and June 2026.
The moderation of monsoon-related production risks through irrigation and improved varieties, combined with the price support for cotton and the expansion of digital market platforms, provides commodity traders with key signals on supply stability and policy direction for Indian agricultural markets.
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