This year, too, the monsoon in India brought not the usual promise of prosperity but widespread destruction, as it has in recent years. Torrential rains flooded farmlands across several states, washing away livelihoods and submerging the hopes of millions of farmers. Instead of irrigating the fields, the rain turned into an unrelenting deluge. States like Punjab, Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh experienced heavy flooding that claimed lives, displaced thousands, and devastated crops — a major blow to the country’s agricultural economy.

When rain becomes a curse

Madhya Pradesh, often called the “Heart of India,” has been particularly affected. Both floods and waterlogging have crippled agriculture. The monsoon began on June 16, and by the end of September, the state had received 119% of its average rainfall — 44.2 inches instead of the expected 37 inches, a 7.2-inch surplus.

In the Bundelkhand region, which spans parts of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, July’s rainfall broke a ten-year record. Sagar district recorded 471 mm, Tikamgarh 416 mm, Damoh 365 mm, Niwari 362 mm, and Chhatarpur 261 mm. The rain persisted through October, flooding villages and turning agricultural land into temporary lakes. Bundelkhand, already known for its fragile ecology and dependence on monsoon rains, saw crops submerged instead of nourished. The result: massive losses of yield and income.

The ground reality: Voices from the fields

A glimpse of the devastation can be seen in the rural belt of Sagar district, where a majority of the population depends on agriculture. Kesli Tehsil, located about 65 km from Sagar city, is known for its fertile soil and green cover. But this year, the sight is heartbreaking — bent paddy stalks, rotting soybean pods, and maize that never reached maturity.

“Even clearing the field costs more than what we’ll earn.” In Chirai village, farmers are counting their losses. Arjun, a natural farming practitioner who owns about 12 acres, says, “Agriculture is the livelihood for all communities here — Brahmin, Thakur, Adivasi, Harijan, and Chadhar. The rains destroyed everyone’s crops. Even the ‘murum’ (gravelly) soil areas are damaged, and crops on black and yellow soil have been wiped out. Until July–August, everything looked promising. Then the rain washed away the crops — and our hopes. The damage is so severe that we won’t even recover the cost of clearing the fields. Farmers will now have to borrow money for the next crop. I fear many small farmers will leave their fields unsown.”

He paused before adding, “A farmer’s income mainly depends on two or three crops a year. Money comes only when we sell them. If the crops are ruined, how will we survive?”

“Our maize only grew three feet”

Sachin Thakur, another farmer from Chirai with 15 acres of land, shares, “I sowed soybean and maize. The soybean was mostly spoiled by the rain, and what remained dried up. The maize plants only grew three to four feet. Some cobs developed, but most plants had none, and the few cobs that did grow had fewer kernels. Nearby villages like Jaruwa, Bamni, Patna, Samnapur, Kukwara, and Mahka are all suffering the same fate.”

“The biodiversity of our fields is dying”

Ramji Thakur, also from Chirai and a member of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (Indian Farmers’ Union), explains: “We five brothers cultivate about 40 acres. This year we sowed maize, paddy, and soybean. All have been hit badly. The soybean is completely ruined — we’ll have to plough it back into the soil. Apart from the rain, the biodiversity of our crops and fields is also in danger. The government must take steps for conservation, inspection, and field development to preserve soil fertility and crop purity.”

“Only a little hope left for maize”

In Utkata village, Suresh Kumar Mehra manages 12 acres (four owned, eight leased).

“I planted radish, sponge gourd, pigeon pea (tur), groundnut, and maize. Except for maize on two acres, everything was destroyed by rain and waterlogging. Only the maize gives me a little hope.”

“A fungus ruined our maize”

From Jetpur Doma village, Sitaram Patel says, “I have six acres, and my family has been farming for three generations. This time we grew bottle gourd and tomato, which survived. But maize around us is ruined. About 10% of it got a fungal disease because of waterlogging. The plants couldn’t withstand the rain.”

“Rs 40,000 gone—and nothing to show for it”

Govind Patel from Chauka village detailed his financial losses, “I sowed maize and pigeon pea on five acres. I spent around Rs 40,000 (approx. $480) on seeds, fertilizer, and chemicals. The pigeon pea is completely gone. Only maize might help me recover part of the cost. But most farmers nearby have maize that only grew two to two-and-a-half feet before turning yellow.”

“Only a third of our seeds sprouted”

Ajab Singh, a farmer from Kewlari Kalan, shares, “Here we have small and big farmers, and everyone’s crop is affected. We sowed paddy, soybean, and maize, but because of continuous rain and waterlogging, many seeds didn’t even sprout. In most fields, only about 25–30% of the seeds grew.”

He added that crops in surrounding villages like Kheri, Semra, Ghana, and Idalpur were also submerged.

“In low-lying areas, 90% of crops are gone”

Arvind Bhaiji, another Kesli farmer, says, “The flat and low-lying fields are more damaged, while crops in slightly elevated areas are better. Some crops are 50% damaged, others 70%, and some even 90% ruined. The rain caused root rot, and the urea fertilizer has been washed away. Farmers here have small landholdings and little money to manage rainwater.”

District Farmers’ Union: ‘Satellite surveys can’t see reality’

When contacted, Raghuvir Tomar, district president of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, says, “the situation of both crops and farmers is very bad. We are demanding that the government conduct an accurate survey and give compensation.”

He criticized the current assessment methods, “In some places, a satellite survey is being used, but it’s not accurate. It doesn’t show the condition of the kernels or the extent of the rot. The ground reality is much worse.”

Climate Change, adaptation, and farmer-led Solutions

As farmers struggle to rebuild, Akash Chaurasia, a nationally recognized innovator in sustainable agriculture, offers a hopeful path. Known for developing Multi-Layer Farming, Akash believes the situation is not hopeless — it just demands adaptation.

“This imbalance of excessive rain is a form of climate change,” he explains. “It’s a disruption that can destroy ecosystems if farmers don’t adapt. But solutions exist.”

His advice is straightforward and affordable:

1. Build Drainage Channels

“During heavy rain, farmers should dig a two-foot-deep and two-foot-wide drain around the raised boundary (med) of their field. This helps excess water escape into canals or pits. When water collects underground, it recharges groundwater and prevents soil erosion. Fertilizer won’t wash away, and waterlogging will end.”

2. Adopt Raised-Bed (Med) Sowing

“In the Med method, crops are sown four to five inches above the ground. When it rains, the water stays in the drains, not around the crop. This prevents root rot. Farmers can do this with their own labour — no extra money is needed. I’ve used it on my own farm, and our crops stay healthy even in heavy rain.”

Akash believes such simple practices, if widely adopted, could transform India’s vulnerability into resilience.

“If every farmer in waterlogged regions followed these two steps, we could save thousands of acres every year.”

Government Support — And What’s Still Missing

India has several schemes designed to protect farmers from disasters:

• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (2016): Provides crop insurance and financial assistance during natural calamities.
• Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN, 2019): Offers Rs 6,000 (approx. $72) annually to farmers for basic support.
• Mukhyamantri Kisan Kalyan Yojana (2020): Adds another Rs 6,000 (approx. $72) per year from the state government.

Despite these, many farmers say the support arrives late or doesn’t cover losses. As Arjun pointed out, “We can’t wait months for relief when we have to buy seeds next week.”

Experts argue that while insurance and compensation help recovery, the real solution lies in prevention — teaching farmers low-cost water management, soil conservation, and climate-resilient methods.

Bringing science and policy Together

Agricultural scientists emphasize the importance of integrating climate-adaptive strategies into local farming practices. Soil moisture mapping, satellite-assisted flood prediction, and localized extension services can inform when to sow, which crops to prioritize, and how to manage water in extreme rainfall years.

What the farmers of Bundelkhand need is not just relief but resilience. Drainage systems, raised-bed cultivation, and better soil management can all help farmers cope with erratic rainfall

Bundelkhand’s case demonstrates a broader climate reality: traditional monsoon patterns no longer guarantee stable farming. What worked decades ago may fail today. Farmers, government agencies, and scientific institutions must collaborate to create resilient systems that protect crops, livelihoods, and the environment.

What the farmers of Bundelkhand need is not just relief but resilience. Drainage systems, raised-bed cultivation, and better soil management can all help farmers cope with erratic rainfall. Local governments could play a transformative role by integrating these ideas into training programs, agricultural extension services, and climate adaptation schemes.

The story of this year’s rain in Madhya Pradesh is one of loss — but also of learning. Farmers like Akash Chaurasia show that adaptation begins with awareness and small, practical steps. If those lessons spread across India’s rural heartland, future monsoons might once again bring prosperity, not panic. The monsoon, once India’s lifeline, is now becoming unpredictable under a changing climate. What farmers in Madhya Pradesh need most is not just compensation—but climate-smart solutions that can secure their future harvests.

(The story is part of EdPublica’s Solutions Journalism Initiative)

A coalition of ten human-rights and climate organisations has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to review its sponsorship ties with Saudi Aramco, warning that the company’s role in the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka risks undermining cricket’s credibility and exposing the sport to reputational damage.

The letters, sent in September, highlight how Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, is using global sport to burnish its image while continuing to expand fossil fuel production. Campaigners argue this is directly at odds with international climate goals and threatens the very future of cricket, already facing heatwaves and extreme weather.

“With the burning of fossil fuels accounting for 80% of carbon emissions, sports organisations risk undermining the Paris Agreement and enabling human rights harms caused by climate breakdown,” the groups wrote in their submission.

India’s climate-cricket paradox

The IPL has already seen matches played in dangerous heat conditions, with experts warning of increasing risks for players and spectators alike. A study released in July 2025, titled “Hit for Six: The Danger Zone”, found that half of this year’s IPL matches were played under conditions rated “Extreme Caution” or “Danger” on the Heat Index, which measures temperature and humidity risks. Over 36% of games faced extreme heat, while 12% reached dangerous levels with significant risk of heatstroke. The report, covering all 65 matches, was published by BASIS, Climate Central, Frontrunners, and The Next Test.

Bringing Aramco in as a lead sponsor of the 2026 World Cup, campaigners say, contradicts efforts to protect cricket from climate disruption.

 “While world-leading UN human rights experts have been raising the alarm about the impact of Aramco’s activities on the planet and humans, sports organisations like FIFA, Formula 1 and the ICC are happily taking the company’s money, disregarding not only their much vaunted social responsibility statements but also the future of the sports themselves,” James Lynch of FairSquare, a human rights organisation with a focus on accountability in sport, said.

Sofie Junge Pedersen, Danish international footballer, drew a parallel with FIFA: “The choice to partner with Aramco helps the Saudi regime distract from its harmful treatment of women and the planet. Values are not just words to write on a page — you need to live them and stand by them.”

UN’s stance
The warnings echo an earlier UN communication sent in 2023 to financial institutions and governments, which cautioned that working with Aramco could contravene international human-rights standards. While directed at banks and states, the principle, campaigners argue, should extend to powerful global sporting bodies as well.

For India, the stakes are high. Cricket’s governing bodies must weigh commercial revenues against rising scrutiny from activists and fans. With the World Cup just a year away, the question is whether the ICC will respond, or risk a credibility clash on one of its biggest stage

In an era when deforestation and climate change threaten ecosystems worldwide, one man from Gujarat—a state on the west coast of India—is rewriting the narrative of environmental restoration.

Dr. Radhakrishnan Nair, fondly known as Nairji, has created 122 forests across India, transforming barren landscapes into thriving ecosystems. His most remarkable achievement, Smritivan (a memorial forest) in Gujarat—recognized as the world’s largest Miyawaki forest—stands as a testament to his vision. Spanning 470 acres and home to over 500,000 trees, this forest is not just a memorial but a beacon of ecological hope. Nair’s work demonstrates how one individual’s determination can combat global warming, restore biodiversity, and inspire communities to embrace a greener future.

From entrepreneur to green crusader

Born in Kasaragod, Kerala, R.K. Nair’s path to becoming India’s “Green Hero” was anything but conventional. After failing his 12th-grade exams, he took on a series of odd jobs, eventually rising to become a successful entrepreneur in the garment industry. But a pivotal moment came in 2011, in Umargam, Gujarat, when he witnessed the felling of 179 ancient trees for road construction. The cries of displaced birds and the destruction of their habitat struck a deep chord.

“I felt the birds were speaking to me,” Nair recalls. “That day, I vowed to create forests where no one would harm them.”

This epiphany led to the founding of Forest Creators with his friend Deepan Jain in 2014. Using corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds, Nair began planting trees—starting with 1,500 saplings on a single acre. Today, he has planted over 3.2 million trees across 12 Indian states—from Gujarat to Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan to Uttar Pradesh. His approach blends the Japanese Miyawaki method, known for rapid and dense forest growth, with a localized adaptation he calls Bharatavanam, tailored to India’s diverse ecosystems.

Smritivan: A green miracle in the Desert

Nair’s crowning achievement is Smritivan, a sprawling forest in Bhuj, Gujarat, established in memory of the 13,805 victims of the 2001 Gujarat earthquake. Originally conceived in 2004 but long stalled, the project gained new life when Nair took charge. Despite the 470-acre terrain being arid and hilly, he began planting in July 2021. “By August 2022, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the memorial, the forest had reached an astonishing 16 feet in height, with 223,555 saplings planted in the first phase alone. Today, Smritivan houses over 525,000 trees, with plans to add 40,000 more,” Nair says, in an interview with EdPublica.

A report from the Gujarat Ecology Commission, accessed by EdPublica, highlights Smritivan’s ecological transformation. Now home to 117 tree species, the forest supports 79 bird species, 28 types of butterflies, 21 reptiles, nine mammals, and two species of fish. The dense canopy and mulched soil prevent erosion, retain moisture, and enrich the land with organic matter. “With an 86% tree survival rate, species like neem and casuarina are flourishing,” according to the report published in 2023.

The forest has also led to localized temperature reductions, while its 50 check dams help replenish groundwater. A one-megawatt solar plant further bolsters its sustainability, making Smriti Van a global model of eco-restoration.

A report from the Gujarat Ecology Commission, accessed by EdPublica, highlights Smritivan’s ecological transformation. Now home to 117 tree species, the forest supports 79 bird species, 28 types of butterflies, 21 reptiles, nine mammals, and two species of fish

Industrialist Anand Mahindra recently shared a viral post on X, praising Nair for building the world’s largest Miyawaki forest.

Ecological impact: Restoring balance

Nair’s forests are more than green patches—they are ecological engines. “In Chhattisgarh, the coastal forest of 103,000 trees raised groundwater levels dramatically—from 160 feet to just 12 feet—reviving wells and sustaining communities,” Nair claims. Across India, his forests have restored biodiversity, attracted wildlife, and helped rebuild natural food chains.

The Gujarat Ecology Commission underscores Smriti Van’s role in carbon sequestration, a vital tool against climate change. Experts recommend ongoing assessments to quantify its carbon storage potential, which could significantly offset emissions.

Nair’s method ensures long-term ecological success. He doesn’t merely plant trees—he nurtures ecosystems. By selecting native species suited to local conditions, his forests are resilient and sustainable. They grow 10 times faster than natural forests, mimicking 150-year-old ecosystems in just 10–15 years. Dense planting (3–4 saplings per square meter) encourages vertical growth, mimicking natural competition for sunlight.

A Vision for the future

Nair’s ambition is bold: planting one billion trees by 2030. Backed by governments, corporations, and citizens, Forest Creators is scaling up to meet this audacious goal. His work has earned international acclaim, including an invitation to represent India at a NASA conference and a UNESCO Prix Versailles award for Smritivan.

Yet, Nair remains grounded—dressed in his signature white mundu, shirt, and cap—a nod to his Malayali roots and the spirit of India’s farmers.

Beyond ecology, Nair’s forests are also community spaces. Smriti Van has become a popular destination for its tranquil trails and vibrant festivals, with 94% of surveyed visitors citing its fresh air and peacefulness. Future plans include guided tours and educational programs to engage youth in environmental stewardship.

A Global inspiration

R.K. Nair’s story is a clarion call for individual action in the face of global crises. His 122 forests—especially the monumental Smritivan—showcase what one person’s vision and persistence can achieve. By restoring biodiversity, cooling urban climates, and sequestering carbon, Nair’s work supports global efforts to fight climate change. As he marches toward his billion-tree goal, he reminds us that a single seed, planted with purpose, can grow into a forest of change.