Early Monsoon, Enduring Struggles: Flood-Affected Farmers in India
- Satat Sampada Climate Foundation
- Jun 25
- 8 min read
Updated: Jun 25
Despite an early southwest monsoon and substantial government allocations, systemic inefficiencies leave flood-affected farmers grappling with inadequate support and uncertain futures.
The southwest monsoon arrived in Kerala, India's southernmost state, on May 24, eight days ahead of schedule, marking its earliest onset in 16 years and raising hopes for a plentiful harvest. Beyond Kerala, the monsoon has extended to Lakshadweep, the south Arabian Sea, parts of the west-central and east-central Arabian Sea, and regions of Karnataka and Maharashtra.
As per the Indian Meteorological Department’s press release dated June 12, 2025, Current Weather Status and Extended Range Forecast for the next two weeks (12th June to 25th June 2025) says that, there was no further advance of the southwest monsoon during the week and the Northern Limit of Monsoon continued to pass through various parts of the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Odisha. Overall, rainfall during this week was deficient to largely deficient over most of the meteorological subdivisions, except in Odisha, Telangana, Marathwada, North Interior Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Karaikal, where it was normal. A fresh spell of heat wave prevailed over north, northwest and adjoining central India during the second half of June 2025.
Should early monsoon mean better monsoon? The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) last forecast for the 2025 southwest monsoon season (June to September), predicts above-normal rainfall across the country. Last year, the monsoon arrived on May 30, with previous onset dates of June 8 in 2023, May 29 in 2022, June 3 in 2021, June 1 in 2020, June 8 in 2019, and May 29 in 2018. Historical data since 1975 indicate the earliest monsoon arrival was on May 19, 1990, 13 days ahead of the typical date.
IMD’s rainfall data also reveals that early monsoon onset over Kerala is not a rare phenomenon, as there have been multiple such incidences in the past. And there is no historical correlation between monsoon onset dates for Kerala and overall monsoon performance across India. Multiple factors, including sea surface temperature patterns in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean, influence monsoon behaviour as it marches to cover the rest of the country by July and starts retreating from northwest India around September 17 and withdraws completely by October 15. Indian Monsoon and Agriculture The southwest monsoon rainfall in India is crucial as it supports the country's agriculture sector, which employs nearly half of the population and contributes significantly to the economy. Approximately 75% of India's annual rainfall occurs during the monsoon season, replenishing water resources like rivers, lakes, and groundwater, which are vital for irrigation and drinking water supplies. It also influences energy generation through hydropower and regulates regional ecosystems. Variations in monsoon patterns, such as excess or deficient rainfall, can lead to floods or droughts, affecting food security, livelihoods, and the overall economy.
Government Initiatives to Support Flood-Affected Farmers The Indian government supports flood-affected farmers through various relief and compensation measures at both the state and central levels. Key initiatives include: 1. Financial Assistance via SDRF and NDRF: The State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) enables state governments to provide immediate relief, including compensation for crop losses due to floods. The National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) supplements state efforts with additional central funding for severe calamities. Additional financial assistance is provided from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as per laid down procedure, in case of a disaster of ‘severe nature’, which includes an assessment based on an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) visit.
2. Crop Insurance Schemes: The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) compensates farmers for crop losses caused by floods, droughts, and unseasonal rains. The Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) similarly supports farmers impacted by weather-related events.
3. Input Subsidies: The government offers Agriculture Input Subsidies to help farmers purchase inputs for the next crop cycle post-flood. States like Gujarat have specific schemes, such as the "Crop Input Subsidy for Crop Loss Due to Natural Calamities," providing compensation based on damage assessments and state norms. As per the “Report of the Committee Constituted for Formulation of Strategy for Flood Management Works in Entire Country and River Management Activities and Works Related to Border Areas (2021– 26)” published by NITI Aayog in January 2021, the flood management activities are being carried out with the following funding –
Flood Management Program (FMP)
Additional Central Assistance (ACA)
State Plan
State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF)
North Eastern Council (NEC)
Non-lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NCLPR)
Joint River Commission (JRC)
Assistance from external agencies (NABARD)
Externally Aided Project (ADB & World Bank)
Name of Scheme | Money Allocated for 2025 | Money Disbursed in 2024 | Specific Notes |
INR. 68,463 crore allocated for NDRMF for 2021-26.
| INR. 4,808.30 crore | NDRF is now known as the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF), and SDRF is now known as the State Disaster Risk Management Fund (SDRMF). The 15th Finance Commission has recommended the creation of funds for disaster mitigation and response, which will now be called the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) and State Disaster Risk Management Funds (SDRMF). | |
INR. 1, 60, 153 crores (from 2021-26)
| INR. 18, 322. 80 crore For 2021-2026, Uttar Pradesh received INR 2,388 crore for the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and INR 515.60 crore for the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF). | ||
Rs 12,242.27 crore in the Union Budget 2025-26 | The Insurance claim paid to farmers is INR. 10,391.39 crore in 2023 - 24 | The number of farmers in Uttar Pradesh insured under PMFBY/RWBCIS for the 2024 Kharif season is 15,38,989. The total sum insured (in lac.)is INR. 6,53,958.19 and total claim paid (in lac.) is INR. 27,543/- The number of farmers in Uttar Pradesh insured under PMFBY/RWBCIS for 2024 Rabi season is 15,89,060. The total sum insured (in lac.) is INR. 8,38,136.21 and total claim paid (in lac.) is INR. 2317/- Non-payment or delayed payment of claims under PMFBY has been the major reason behind farmers’ disillusionment with the scheme. | |
For the financial year 2024-25, the budget estimate was INR. 14,600 crore | Actual expenditure (or disbursement) was INR. 14,772.86 crore | ||
Agriculture Input Subsidies |
| The National Agriculture Infra Financing Facility sanctioned INR. 43, 391 crore as of June 30, 2024. Out of this, INR. 28,171 crore had been disbursed by the end of the period. Under the National Agriculture Infra Financing Facility as on 28 March 2022, in Uttar Pradesh Rs. 280 Crores has been sanctioned for 798 projects and out of which Rs. 141.7 Crores have been disbursed for 530 projects. The number of beneficiaries/ sanctioned projects under Agri Infra Fund (AIF)in Uttar Pradesh is 798 | . |
Identifying gaps in the disbursement of these schemes to the affected farmers
These figures above indicate significant budgetary provisions to meet crop loss and flood assistance to farmers, but the disbursed amounts are often much lower than allocations, and the actual benefits reaching farmers are further reduced due to systemic inefficiencies.
The gap between government allocations, disbursements, and what farmers receive arises from several factors:
a. Delayed or Non-Paid Insurance Claims
Under PMFBY, non-payment or delayed payment of claims is a major issue. Despite INR 10,391.39 crore paid in claims in 2023–24, many farmers face delays due to bureaucratic hurdles, inaccurate damage assessments, or disputes with insurance companies. This leads to disillusionment, as farmers cannot rely on timely compensation to recover from flood losses.
RWBCIS, while disbursing INR 14,772.86 crore in 2024–25, used a weather index-based methodology, which might not have accurately reflected localised crop damage, leaving some farmers under compensated.
b. Limited Disbursement of Disaster Funds
The NDRMF disbursed only INR. 4,808.30 crore in 2024, a fraction of the INR. 68,463 crore allocated for 2021–26. Similarly, SDRMF disbursed INR. 18,322.80 crore against INR. 1,60,153 crore allocated. This gap suggests that funds are either not released promptly or are tied up in procedural delays, such as assessments by Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCT).
Flood relief often requires immediate action, but the reliance on centralised assessments and approvals delays aid delivery, leaving farmers struggling to replant or recover.
c. Inadequate Subsidy Reach
Agriculture Input Subsidies aim to help farmers purchase seeds, fertilisers, and other inputs post-flood. However, only INR 28,171 crore of the INR 43,391 crore sanctioned under the National Agriculture Infra Financing Facility was disbursed by June 2024.
The fertiliser subsidy of INR 1,77,129.50 crore for 2024–25 is substantial, but its distribution may not prioritise flood-affected farmers, further limiting its impact.
Flooded Futures: The gap between relief and reality for farmers in Etawah The mismatch between allocated funds and actual relief has profound consequences for flood-affected farmers. In Khiriti village, located in Chakarnagar block of Etawah district, 70-year-old farmer Ram Kishan Yadav battles relentless floods that devastate his livelihood each year. With 15 bighas (3 acres) of land, Ram Kishan faces severe losses, as floods recently damaged 8 bighas (1.6 acres) of his cultivated fields. The recurring disaster leaves him struggling to sustain his crops and income. “The government provides disaster relief assistance of INR. 250, calculated at INR. 1,250 per acre, but this amount falls drastically short,” says Ram Kishan, who spends INR. 1,500 (INR. 7,500 per acre) on crop sowing, creating a stark 1:6 ratio between compensation and expenditure. He adds further, “the relief fails to cover my expenses leave alone giving me some future security”, highlighting a significant gap in support for flood-affected farmers. In Kakraiya village, nestled in Chakarnagar block of Etawah district, 35-year-old Pramod Nishad grapples with annual floods that ravage his farmland. Pramod shared that there weren’t any government-led disaster management programs, meetings, or training in the village till date. Nor any government officials ever came to make public details about allocated disaster management budgets that his village community can avail, leaving all farmers in the community uninformed and vulnerable. These two real life case studies of Ram Kishan Yadav and Pramod Nishad are representing the struggle of millions of small and marginal farmers in flood prone areas across India, underscoring the urgent need for effective disaster management and robust relief measures in such villages. |
d. Assessment and Coverage Gaps
Compensation under schemes like PMFBY and SDRMF depends on accurate damage assessments. However, these assessments are often delayed or underestimate losses due to limited resources, underreporting, or discrepancies in data collection. For instance, flood damage in one village may vary significantly, but uniform compensation rates fail to address individual losses.
Small and marginal farmers, who form the majority, are particularly disadvantaged as they lack the resources to navigate claim processes or prove losses.
As floods continue to disrupt lives and livelihoods, farmers await meaningful government intervention to protect their crops and secure their future.
Conclusion
While the Indian government has allocated significant funds for flood relief and compensation schemes like NDRF, SDRMF, PMFBY, and agriculture subsidies, systemic inefficiencies, delayed disbursements, and inaccurate assessments create a substantial gap between promised aid and what farmers receive. This mismatch leaves flood-affected farmers vulnerable, threatening their livelihoods and India’s agricultural economy. To address these challenges, it requires streamlined processes, decentralised fund release, and a focus on equitable, timely relief to ensure that the allocated funds effectively reach the farmers who need them most.
When climate change is now becoming a reality with every passing year and India being one of the worst sufferers of the new age crisis, governments cannot just keep schemes, commitments and budgets lying safe in policies, deliberations and workshop presentations. Mitigation, preparedness and compensation of losses must be channelised in a way that the schemes and programmes meet their objectives and farmers are supported such that they can sustain agriculture despite the vagaries of the changing climate.
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