Changing rainfall patterns in India are posing a threat to food and water security

Since June 13, there has been a hiatus in the advance of southwest monsoon in the country due to the weakening of its circulation pattern. This dry spell is expected to soon change as the monsoon is likely to advance further over Assam, some more parts of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal and parts of Jharkhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and south Gujarat by June 25, as stated in the recent weather status and outlook of the India Meteorological Department. But, the dry spell is already a matter of concern.

As per the Hydromet Division of the IMD, between June 1 and June 22 this year, several meteorological sub-divisions in the northwest, northeast and east India have reported deficient (minus 59% to minus 20%) and large deficient rainfall (minus 99% to minus 60%).

For instance, East Uttar Pradesh, West Uttar Pradesh, East Rajasthan and West Rajasthan have reported a rainfall departure of minus 63%, minus 43%, minus 52% and minus 54%, respectively. Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha, too, have had minus 38%, minus 49% and minus 31% deficient rainfall, respectively.

The situation is grim in the meteorological sub-divisions of Saurashtra and Kutch, and Gujarat region, which have reported rainfall departure of minus 97% and minus 91%, respectively.

Overall, as of June 22, only 10 states and union territories have reported normal rainfall (minus 19% to plus 19%) in the country. Eleven have reported deficient rainfall and three are in the category of large deficient. Meanwhile, eight states and UTs had excess (20% to 59%) and three had large excess rainfall (60% or more), respectively.

Whereas the southwest monsoon is expected to pick pace now and eventually cover the entire country with some delays, an IMD study, titled Long term rainfall trend over meteorological sub divisions and districts of India, published in July 2017 issue of MAUSAM, a quarterly research journal of the Met department, has found that the annual rainfall in the country is showing a significant increasing trend in 10% of the districts, whereas 13% of the districts show a significant decreasing trend.

Long-term trend analysis

Three scientists of the IMD – Surinder Kaur, Sumant Kumar Diwakar and Ashok Kumar Das – have studied long-term trend of annual and seasonal rainfall over different districts and meteorological sub-divisions of the country between 1961 and 2013. They have also carried out annual rainfall trend analysis between 1961 and 2013. A total of 632 districts and 34 meteorological sub-divisions were included in their study and daily rainfall records from 6,995 rain gauge stations across the country were collected. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep were excluded from the study.

Based on the rainfall analysis, the researchers found that between 1961 and 2013, 64 districts (10.1%) show an increasing trend of annual rainfall, whereas 85 districts (13.4%) show a decreasing trend. Uttar Pradesh (UP) has maximum number of districts (32) showing a decreasing annual rainfall trend. These districts include Agra, Aligarh, Etawah, Firozabad, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Mathura, Unnao, etc.

Meanwhile, Odisha has a maximum of 12 districts showing an increasing trend, such as Cuttack, Kalahandi, Koraput, Mayurbhanj, Puri, etc. Area wise, 97,663.9 sq. km area in Uttar Pradesh has a declining trend in annual rainfall, whereas 68,846.9 sq. km area in Odisha has an increasing trend.

Based on trend analysis of annual rainfall, “…the sub-divisions of West UP, East UP and Arunachal Pradesh are showing significantly negative trend in rainfall whereas the sub-divisions Odisha, Coastal AP (Andhra Pradesh) and Konkan and Goa are showing significantly positive trend at 95% (confidence level)”, reads the 2017 study.

Overall, at national level, 10.3% area in the country (except Leh and Ladakh district, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep) has reported an increasing trend in annual rainfall between 1961 and 2013; and 8.03% area has reported a decreasing trend in annual rainfall during the same time period.

Apart from the annual rainfall trend, the IMD scientists have also studied monsoon rainfall between 1961 and 2013. And, the analysis shows: “The sub-divisions of West UP and East UP are showing significantly negative trend in monsoon rainfall whereas the sub-divisions Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, SI (south interior) Karnataka and Konkan and Goa are showing significantly positive trend in monsoon rainfall at 95% (confidence level)”.

Also, no district is showing an increasing trend in rainfall in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Puducherry in both the periods. The IMD study also warns of “high variability in rainfall in the recent decades”.

Concerns and impacts

The changing rainfall pattern in India is a huge concern as the country’s water and food security is at a risk. According to a 2017 document of the Indian government’s think tank NITI Aayog, Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture in India, India is already water stressed. Almost 52% of its cropped area remains without irrigation and some areas are chronically water stressed.

The share of canal in net irrigated area has declined from 39.8% to 23.6%, whereas groundwater sources has increased from 28.7% to 62.4% between 1950-51 and 2012-13. Because of lack of irrigation, a large number of farmers depended on monsoon rainfall to practice agriculture. For instance, as per the NITI Aayog document, of the total pulses, oilseeds and cotton produced in the country, 80% pulses, 73% oilseeds and 68% cotton come from rain-fed agriculture.

Meanwhile, the annual demand for cereals, pulses, edible oils, vegetables and fruits is rising a rate of 1.3%, 3%, 3.5%, 3.3% and 5%, respectively. The changing pattern of rainfall can put a spanner in India’s food security.

The authors of the IMD study warn: “Changes in climate over the Indian region, particularly during the SW [southwest] monsoon, would have a significant impact on agricultural production, water resources management and overall economy of the country.” Such climatic changes would also mean an increase in extreme weather events, droughts and floods.

Take the case of northeast India, which is facing destructive floods. As of June 22, Manipur has a rainfall departure of minus 60% (classified as large deficient), but is facing fury of the floods. As against the normal rainfall of 315 mm, Assam has so far received only 254.1 mm rainfall this southwest monsoon (minus 19%, on the borderline of normal category), but 14 people have lost their lives in flash floods and rainfall-induced landslides, whereas more than half a million people in the state have been affected by the floods.

This article first appeared on India Climate Dialogue.