The current month has opened to mounting anxiety for the agricultural sector as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts a concerning pattern of below-normal rainfall coupled with above-normal maximum temperatures across the region. The persistent dry spells threaten to stress standing crops and deplete vital groundwater reserves just as key cultivation cycles reach a critical phase.Detailing the monthly trajectory, IMD Senior Scientist at Amaravati, Karuna Sagar, noted that the transition into autumn brings little immediate relief for cultivators.“First week of September is dry, second week of September could be little better with rains and rest of the weeks in the month no hopes on the rainfall. Farmers suffer,” Karuna Sagar said, speaking to The Hindu.Meteorological models indicate that while a brief window of wet weather during the second week may offer transient succor, the broader stretch of the month will remain predominantly dry. This prolonged dry deficit, paired with unseasonal daytime heat, is expected to accelerate soil moisture depletion. Agronomists warn that rain-fed crops face severe stress if irrigation channels fail to compensate for the vanishing showers.Farming communities across the districts are growing increasingly apprehensive as the monsoon’s late-season retreat threatens yields. Agricultural extension units have advised growers to adopt water-conservation practices wherever possible to mitigate the adverse impacts of the prolonged dry spell ahead. Published - September 03, 2026 11:46 pm IST