Kodagu Records 52% Deficit in Pre-Monsoon Rainfall, Raising Concerns Ahead of Monsoon

The significant deficit has raised concerns among coffee growers and farmers in the district.

Madikeri/Bengaluru: Kodagu district has recorded a sharp deficit in pre-monsoon rainfall this year, triggering concerns among farmers and residents ahead of the southwest monsoon season and the upcoming kharif sowing period.

According to data released by the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) as of May 27, Kodagu received only 106 mm of rainfall during the pre-monsoon period between March 1 and May 27 against the normal 220 mm, registering a steep deficit of 52 per cent — one of the highest shortfalls in southern Karnataka.

The data showed that the rainfall shortage was particularly severe during April. Kodagu recorded a 76 per cent rainfall deficit during the month, reflecting weak thunderstorm activity and prolonged dry weather conditions in several parts of the district.

Although rainfall activity improved marginally in May, it remained below normal. Between May 1 and 27, Kodagu received 64 mm rainfall against the normal 114 mm, registering a deficit of 44 per cent. The rainfall received during the month was insufficient to offset the large shortfall recorded earlier in the season.

The significant deficit has raised concerns among coffee growers and farmers in the district, who depend on timely pre-monsoon showers for agricultural activities and soil moisture before the arrival of the southwest monsoon. Pre-monsoon rains are considered crucial in Kodagu, especially for coffee plantations, as they help flowering and support early crop preparation.

Experts say continued rainfall deficiency could impact water availability, groundwater recharge, and agricultural operations if the southwest monsoon does not intensify in the coming weeks.

South Interior Karnataka as a whole recorded a rainfall deficit of 16 per cent during the pre-monsoon season, receiving 106 mm rainfall against the normal 125 mm. Apart from Kodagu, several districts in the Mysuru region also reported below-normal rainfall during the period.

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