As monsoon rains falter, farmers in Kerala’s Wayanad fear a poor harvest

“Pepper vines normally start producing spikes after summer showers, with spike development continuing until the onset of the monsoon before the berries develop. This year, this process has been disrupted by poor rainfall.” A view from a plantation in Wayanad on Saturday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Rows of Robusta coffee trees, vines winding around trees and exotic fruit-laden plants lend the 6.5-acre Baby John’s plantation at Ambalavayal in Wayanad, Kerala a postcard charm. But beneath the lush green canopy, the signs of the waning monsoon are unmistakable. Pepper spikes have emerged but remain underdeveloped, coffee berries are developing unevenly and an experienced farmer fears a poor southwest monsoon could significantly reduce this year’s harvest.

Farmers share the concern in large parts of Wayanad where deficit rainfall has adversely affected agriculture. According to the Hume Center for Wildlife Ecology and Biology, the district received only 270.23 mm of rainfall in June, the lowest for the month in the last five years. Experts attribute the rainfall deficit to the delayed onset and weakening of the southwest monsoon influenced by climate change and El Niño

Wayanad region fell from 1 June 2026 to 30 June 2026 (left). June rainfall in Wayanad from 2022 to 2026 (right). (Credit: Hume Center for Ecology and Wildlife Biology) | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Mr. John stands in the middle of his plantation and points to the pepper vines, where the spikes are sparse and underdeveloped.

“Pepper vines usually start producing spikes after summer showers, with spike development continuing until the onset of the monsoon before the berries develop. This year, poor rainfall has stunted their development,” he said. “The coffee trees flowered and finished berry formation after the summer showers, but the weak monsoon in June affected berry development. Sufficient monsoon rainfall is key to berry growth and size, but this year they did not develop properly.”

M. Manoj, who owns a 5.5-acre mixed crop plantation in Meenangadi, said uneven distribution of summer rainfall and poor monsoon in June had worsened farmers’ woes.

“Some parts of the district received summer showers and the pepper vines initially started producing spikes. The lack of rain during Thiruvathira Njattuvela, a period when there is traditionally continuous rainfall, halted the development of spikes and is likely to reduce pepper production. The uneven summer rains also caused coffee bushes to flower in five different stages in the plantations, forcing farmers to harvest the crop and increasing labor costs for plantations, he said.

A paddy grower’s hit

The cultivation of rice fields was also severely affected. As rainfall remains below normal, many farmers are yet to start transplanting seedlings. The delay also affected the timely application of fertilizers, adding to fears of lower productivity.

CK Vishnudas, executive director of the Hume Center for Ecology and Wildlife Biology, said Wayanad has traditionally experienced heavy monsoon rains and the associated risk of natural disasters during the southwest monsoon.

“This year, however, the major problem has been a significant lack of rainfall. The weakening of the Indian monsoon due to climate change and the influence of the El Niño phenomenon over the Pacific Ocean have been identified as the primary causes of the severe rainfall deficit in the district,” Vishnudas said, adding that rainfall forecasts for the coming weeks are also not encouraging.

Lakkidi, which received the most rainfall in the district in June, recorded 836 mm, while Mullankolly recorded the lowest rainfall of just 44 mm.

We have crucial weeks ahead of us

Agricultural experts said the coming weeks will be crucial for the district’s agricultural sector, especially for pepper and paddy.

“Rice cultivation has been the most affected crop-wise by deficit rainfall. Good July showers are also crucial for pepper cultivation,” said P. Shajeesh Jan, associate professor at Ambalavayal Regional Agricultural Research Station under Kerala Agricultural University.

Published – 04 Jul 2026 15:56 IST