AHMEDABAD: Unseasonal rains returned to haunt Gujarat on February 23 morning, as fresh showers lashed Ankleshwar and Jambusar talukas of Bharuch district, extending the weather disturbance that began across several districts on February 20.
The sudden spell quickly altered the weather pattern in Gandhinagar, where slow drizzle and cold winds cooled the atmosphere but simultaneously heightened agricultural anxiety.
The ripple effect soon reached Ahmedabad, where overcast skies turned into light rain, reinforcing fears of widespread impact on standing Rabi crops.
Unseasonal rainfall could inflict disproportionate damage, especially to wheat, cotton, tur and vegetable crops that are currently in the most vulnerable stage. Farmers worry that prolonged moisture could blacken grains, spoil quality and trigger rotting of harvested produce lying in fields.
The anxiety is sharper because the rain threatens key staple crops such as wheat, gram, tur, coriander and cumin, which form the backbone of the season’s output.
If the drizzle turns into sustained showers, the soaked produce risks fungal infection, discoloration and reduced market value, directly impacting farm incomes.
The timing of the weather shock has added to the distress, as months of costly seeds, irrigation expenses and round-the-clock labour were invested precisely to secure a timely harvest.
Compounding the crisis, farmers are also struggling to protect harvested crops and stock lying in open agricultural fields and marketing yards by laying tarpaulin covers and arranging emergency transport.
Simultaneously, cattle owners face a parallel challenge as soaked fodder could reduce feed quality, thereby affecting livestock health and increasing input costs.
Cloudy conditions continue to prevail across many rural pockets of the state, and the persistence of overcast skies has added a layer of uncertainty to farm planning.
According to weather reports, unseasonal showers are likely across Gujarat on Monday, indicating that the present spell may not be an isolated event.
The forecast warns of light rainfall in North Gujarat districts including Banaskantha, Sabarkantha and Aravalli, signalling a broader geographical spread of the weather disturbance.
In South Gujarat, districts such as Bharuch, Tapi, Surat, Narmada and Chhotaudepur are expected to witness light rain accompanied by gusty winds, increasing the risk of lodging and crop damage.
Parts of Saurashtra and Kutch may also receive unseasonal rain, a projection that has further amplified concern among farmers already battling a narrow harvest window.
Thus, as February’s unexpected showers stretch across regions and forecasts hint at continued instability, Gujarat’s farming community finds itself in a race against time to harvest, protect and salvage crops before the skies decide the season’s fate.