Monsoon Is Almost Over For Gujarat, One Third of Taluka Are Facing Drought

Gujarat faces an impending agricultural crisis as the southwest monsoon prepares to withdraw within days, leaving 94 out of 268 talukas over 35% of the state with rain deficits exceeding 26%.

State-level cumulative figures released by the State Emergency Operation Centre paint an optimistic picture of near-normal seasonal rainfall at 89.16%. Granular administrative data tells a different story. Thirteen of Gujarat’s 34 reporting districts face severe rainfall shortfalls, crossing standard meteorological thresholds for drought. With no new rain-bearing weather systems active over Western India, ground-level moisture availability in rural pockets has dropped sharply as harvesting season approaches.

Ground Zero: Saurashtra and Kachchh Bear the Brunt

The deficit remains heavily concentrated across coastal Saurashtra, the arid northwest of Kachchh, and northern inland belts. Devbhumi Dwarka district ranks as the worst-affected region statewide, closing the season with an 83.55% deficiency after receiving just 138.50 mm of rain against its 30-year average of 842.00 mm. Porbandar follows closely with a 69.14% deficit, while Jamnagar records a 57.17% shortfall. Kachchh district sits at a 42.40% seasonal deficit.

At the Sub-District Level, the Numbers Show Extreme Stress:

• Kalyanpur (Devbhumi Dwarka): 92.14 % deficit, receiving only 76 mm against an average of 967 mm.
• Khambhalia (Devbhumi Dwarka): 84.07 % deficit, registering 152 mm against a 954 mm average.
• Porbandar (Porbandar): 80.82 % deficit, logging 154 mm against an 803 mm average.
• Dwarka (Devbhumi Dwarka): 79.60 % deficit, recording 134 mm against 657 mm normal rainfall.
• Bhanvad (Devbhumi Dwarka): 75.70 % deficit, picking up 192 mm against 790 mm average.
• Lalpur (Jamnagar): 73.13 % deficit, standing at 212 mm against 789 mm average.
• Ranavav (Porbandar): 72.62 % deficit, gathering 242 mm against 884 mm normal rainfall.
• Upleta (Rajkot): 70.12 % deficit, collecting 254 mm against an 850 mm average.

Kharif Crops Hit At Critical Growth Stages

The absence of late-monsoon showers hits farmers at a critical period. Major Kharif crops across Saurashtra and North Gujarat primarily groundnut, cotton, castor, and pulses are currently passing through pod-formation and boll-development stages, which require sustained root moisture.

Saurashtra serves as India’s primary groundnut-producing belt. In regions like Kalyanpur, Khambhalia, and Upleta, where seasonal shortfalls range between 70 and 92 %, rain-fed groundnut crops face severe pod-filling failures. Short-staple cotton and castor crops across Kachchh (Abdasa: 62.14 % deficit; Nakhatrana: 52.87 % deficit) and North Gujarat districts like Banaskantha and Sabarkantha face terminal moisture stress. Coarse grains such as bajra (pearl millet) and pulses in dry-farming tracts including Vav (61.17 % deficit) face truncated maturity cycles.

Groundwater Depletion Concerns Mount

State agriculture and irrigation departments are gathering field data to assess soil moisture levels and crop yield losses. The complete lack of late-season atmospheric recharge presents a clear threat to rural groundwater tables across 94 deficit talukas.

Without supplementary irrigation or canal water releases from regional reservoir networks, agricultural communities across western and northern Gujarat face a difficult winter cropping season, relying heavily on state intervention to secure drinking supply and fodder reserves.