Alvarinho Luis
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is Goa's staple food, which plays a crucial role in the state's agriculture, sustaining both food security and the rural economy. Its cultivation is integral to Goa's cultural traditions and festivals. Rice is grown in both kharif (Sod) and rabi (Vaigon) seasons, covering 16% of morod (uplands), 32% of kher lands (midlands), and 32% of khazan (saline) lands. At Goa's liberation, 70% of the population was engaged in agriculture, with paddy as the main crop. Today, rice is cultivated over 42,973 hectares, producing 1,55,818 metric tonnes annually with an average yield of 3399 kg/ha.
Rice cultivation is synchronized with the monsoon cycle with sowing in June, transplanting in July, and harvesting from mid-October to November. This year, farmers suffered heavy losses due to intense rains, which meteorologist Dr Ramesh Kumar attributed to local synoptic conditions, including the monsoon trough and offshore troughs. The monsoon trough, a low-pressure system near the Himalayas, and the offshore trough along the west coast, both trigger heavy rainfall. While essential for agriculture, these weather patterns can cause significant crop damage, impacting livelihoods and food production.
Goa typically receives 90% of its annual rainfall between June and September, but in 2024, 94% of the total rainfall occurred in June and July alone. The monsoon began on June 4, with 967.2mm of rain, surpassing the average of 900.4mm. Heavy rains submerged and damaged newly planted paddy seedlings. July brought relentless rainfall, breaking a 124-year record with 1986 mm, including extreme daily totals of 235mm on July 8 and 153.3mm on July 15. This downpour, during the crucial transplanting phase, flooded fields and caused prolonged waterlogging, severely damaging the cultivation. Poor drainage maintenance worsened the situation, leading to further crop damage.
In August, Goa experienced a prolonged dry spell from the 11th to the 18th, followed by an active rain period from August 23-25, with heaviest rainfall at 122mm occurring on August 25. Despite two deep depressions in September, only one extreme rainfall event occurred, with 92.1 mm on September 24. Continuous heavy rains during the harvest season posed a major threat to crops, particularly during the flowering and grain formation stages. Excessive rain affected pollination, leading to lower yields. Additionally, heavy rains in September, when paddy matured, caused plants to recline, resulting in grain decay/ germination due to prolonged ground contact. This combination of factors contributed to a significant reduction in crop productivity, heightening concerns over the region's agricultural resilience amidst erratic monsoon patterns.
Goa received 4,400.7 mm of rainfall in 2024, 47% above average, leading to the destruction of 80% of the paddy crop and losses of Rs 3.7 cr. Farmers who suffered during the planting season worry that the unseasonal rains in October may damage what little remains of their crops. This could hinder their recovery from prior losses, raising concerns about their overall yield and financial stability. This situation underscores the increasing vulnerability of Goa's agriculture to climate extremes and the urgent need for improved support and adaptive strategies for farmers.