Farmers look at drought-resistant crops fearing monsoon deficit

Worried at more than one forecast of possibly weak monsoon; looking at less of water-dependent crops

Harjinder Singh, a farmer with 25 acres of holding in Sangrur district of Punjab, is worried over the prediction of rainfall deficit this monsoon.

He has started preparations for sowing short-duration kharif crops, including paddy, assuming the prediction of private monsoon forecast agency Skymet comes true.

Many farmers like him have started preparations for sowing less of water-dependent crops, such as maize, millets or tomatoes. “We are planning to sow corn (maize) in the usual paddy field this season; it requires less water. If the climate permits, we will also sow short-duration paddy, which would be decided with the onset