Drought report: On southwest monsoon, drought in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh

A serious drought has emerged in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh after the southwest monsoon ended with a major rainfall deficiency. The crisis matters because farming, drinking-water planning and State finances are now under pressure. Both governments have formally identified large areas as drought-hit.

Karnataka reported nearly 35% less rain from June to September and declared 217 of 240 taluks affected. Red gram, maize, cotton and sugarcane suffered extensive damage. Andhra Pradesh recorded a 53% shortfall from June to August and declared 388 of 688 mandals drought-hit. Horticultural crops across nearly 18,000 hectares are at risk.

Karnataka has asked the Centre for ₹11,000 crore from the NDRF and higher input subsidies. Andhra Pradesh has earmarked ₹190 crore to protect horticulture and ordered drinking-water conservation. Both States have advised water-saving farming, while the Centre is expected to consider relief after verifying the findings of its Inter-Ministerial Central Team.

A drought is a prolonged period of unusually low water availability that harms agriculture, ecosystems or communities. In India, a drought declaration is therefore broader than simply recording weak rainfall. It matters because the classification can unlock additional public relief, while also signalling serious risks to crops, water supplies and rural incomes.

The national framework combines agricultural indicators, such as crop stress, with hydrological indicators linked to water availability. Authorities also use ground-truthing studies, meaning field checks that test whether reported conditions match what communities and farms are experiencing. States declare affected administrative areas under this framework.

The Manual for Drought Management, later updates and Finance Commission decisions have tightened the process since 2009. After assessment, an Inter-Ministerial Central Team can verify findings. The Centre has resisted releasing NDRF assistance before, so public verification is important before extra support is approved.

The rainfall shortfall is large in both States, but the reporting periods differ. Karnataka received nearly 35% less rain during June–September. Andhra Pradesh recorded a 53% deficit during June–August. These figures indicate a severely deficient monsoon season in regions that depend heavily on seasonal rain.

The administrative impact is also extensive. Karnataka declared 217 of its 240 taluks drought-hit. Andhra Pradesh declared 388 of its 688 mandals drought-hit. These declarations are not based only on rainfall totals. India’s framework also considers agricultural damage, hydrological conditions and field evidence before relief decisions are made.

The scale explains why both governments are seeking or arranging assistance. Karnataka has requested ₹11,000 crore from the NDRF and higher input subsidies. Andhra Pradesh has reserved ₹190 crore for horticultural protection. The figures also show why verification and timely support are central to the response.

Drought reduces the water available for crops, livestock and households. When fields receive too little rain, plants can wilt, yields can fall and farmers may lose money spent on seeds, labour and inputs. Lower production can also reduce local food availability and increase dependence on relief or market supplies.

Karnataka has reported extensive damage to red gram, maize, cotton and sugarcane. In Andhra Pradesh, horticultural crops across nearly 18,000 hectares are at risk. Water stress also affects drinking supplies, which is why Andhra Pradesh has directed conservation measures. The article does not quantify household shortages or total income losses.

The effects can spread beyond individual farms. Crop failures may deepen farmer indebtedness and make recovery harder without input subsidies or other support. The States have therefore sought financial assistance and promoted water-saving practices. Protecting crops, conserving drinking water and widening relief beyond land ownership would limit the social and food-system damage.

The June–September southwest monsoon matters because it delivers a large share of the rain used for seasonal farming and water replenishment. Good monsoon rainfall supports crop growth and helps refill reservoirs, tanks, rivers and groundwater. A deficient monsoon can therefore affect both agriculture and drinking-water planning.

The current season shows the mechanism clearly. Karnataka recorded nearly 35% less rain from June to September, while Andhra Pradesh recorded a 53% shortfall from June to August. Their governments then reported crop damage, declared hundreds of administrative areas drought-hit and introduced water-conservation or crop-protection measures.

The article calls this year’s summer monsoon the poorest showing since 2015 and links concern to a strengthening El Niño, although a specific attribution study is pending. Future planning must therefore combine timely relief with better water storage, rational consumption, groundwater protection and crops suited to local rainfall and aquifers.

Drought relief is shared between State governments and the Centre. States assess local damage, declare affected administrative areas, provide immediate support and organise measures such as crop protection or drinking-water conservation. The Centre’s role includes applying the national framework, checking evidence and considering additional funding through the National Disaster Response Fund.

Karnataka has declared 217 of 240 taluks drought-hit and petitioned the Centre for ₹11,000 crore from the NDRF, along with higher input subsidies. Andhra Pradesh has declared 388 of 688 mandals affected and set aside ₹190 crore to protect horticultural crops. These steps show the different layers of response.

An Inter-Ministerial Central Team examines the situation, and its findings must be publicly verified before support is released. The article notes that the Centre has previously resisted NDRF assistance, including for Karnataka in 2024. It also says the Centre and States carry growing relief obligations.

Future drought vulnerability falls when farms and communities use less water and depend less on a single crop or rainfall event. Micro-irrigation can deliver water more efficiently, while storing water and protecting groundwater can extend supplies through dry periods. Crop diversification and agricultural insurance can also reduce the financial shock of a failed harvest.

Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have offered incentives and advisories to adopt micro-irrigation and cultivate less water-intensive crops. Andhra Pradesh has directed drinking-water conservation, while the article urges more discipline in storing water and rationalising consumption. It also recommends choosing crops according to local rainfall, aquifers and income-support availability.

The article says these measures need stronger implementation because the States have not imposed binding limits. The Centre could provide incentives for drought resistance and broaden agricultural insurance. Relief should also reach farmers beyond formal land ownership, while sustainable groundwater use must remain central to long-term resilience.