Earth
Madhya Pradesh: Crop Damage Due to Excessive Rain—What Could Be the Solution?
Excessive rains in Madhya Pradesh have destroyed crops across villages like Chirai and Kesli, leaving farmers’ livelihoods at risk. Experts suggest simple solutions like drainage channels and raised-bed sowing to protect fields and build resilience against erratic monsoons.
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)
Climate & Environment
Global Ecosystem Restoration Progress Falls Short of 2030 Targets, UN Report Warns
Ecosystem restoration efforts are expanding across the world, but progress remains insufficient to meet global biodiversity targets for 2030, according to a new report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD).
The report, Restoration Progress Report: Nature’s Comeback – Scaling Ecosystem Restoration for People and Planet, documents approximately 252 million hectares of terrestrial, freshwater, marine and coastal ecosystems under restoration across 149 countries in 2026. Despite this progress, the report warns that implementation must triple to achieve the global commitment to restore 30 per cent of degraded ecosystems by 2030.
Countries have collectively committed to restoring approximately one billion hectares through national plans, international agreements and regional initiatives. However, the documented restoration area represents only about a quarter of these commitments, highlighting the gap between political ambition and action on the ground.
The assessment comes as the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) enters its second half. It examines restoration progress across different ecosystems, the financial resources required and the measures needed to accelerate recovery.
The report identifies land-use change, agricultural expansion, deforestation, overexploitation of natural resources, pollution and climate change as major drivers of ecosystem degradation. These pressures frequently interact, making recovery more difficult and expensive.
More than 1.56 billion hectares of land, representing over 15 per cent of the global land surface, are estimated to be degraded. Between 2015 and 2019, at least 100 million hectares of previously healthy and productive land were degraded annually. Agricultural lands account for more than 60 per cent of global land degradation, with an estimated 480 million hectares of cropland and 560 million hectares of pastureland affected.
Freshwater and marine ecosystems lag behind
Restoration progress varies considerably across ecosystem types. Terrestrial ecosystems account for the largest share of documented restoration, with approximately 232 million hectares under restoration. However, this still represents only about half of the 469 million hectares estimated to be required to meet the 2030 restoration target for terrestrial ecosystems.
Freshwater ecosystems face a substantially larger implementation gap. Only around 11 million hectares are documented as being under restoration, representing approximately 4.5 per cent of the estimated 244 million hectares required to meet the target.
Marine and coastal ecosystems have approximately 5.7 million hectares under restoration, equivalent to around 23 per cent of their estimated 25 million-hectare target.
The report notes that freshwater and marine ecosystems are among the most rapidly degrading environments, despite their importance in supporting biodiversity, food security and livelihoods. Incomplete monitoring and inconsistent national reporting also make it difficult to establish the full extent of restoration activities in these ecosystems.
Funding gap threatens restoration ambitions
Financing remains another major obstacle. Global restoration investments reached approximately $64 billion in 2022, but annual funding needs to increase to $296 billion by 2030 and $448 billion by 2050 to meet restoration requirements.
The report calls for greater public investment alongside private and blended financing mechanisms. It also stresses the need to redirect financial flows and subsidies that encourage unsustainable resource use and contribute to environmental degradation.
Beyond ecological benefits, restoration could generate significant employment opportunities. The report estimates that more than one million green jobs have been created through the World Restoration Flagships, while ecosystem restoration has the potential to generate over 32 million additional jobs globally by 2030.
Vibrant green moss and plants beside a gently flowing stream in a natural setting.Image credit:Pexels
It also highlights the potential of restoration to address climate change and biodiversity loss. Research cited in the assessment indicates that restoring just 15 per cent of global priority areas could capture and store carbon equivalent to 30 per cent of the total increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide since the Industrial Revolution, while helping avoid 60 per cent of species extinctions.
The report emphasises that successful restoration requires more than increasing the area of land brought under recovery. It calls for greater participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, recognition of land rights, stronger monitoring systems and restoration strategies that address entire landscapes and ecosystems.
As the 2030 deadline approaches, the assessment identifies three priorities for accelerating progress: building a broader global movement for restoration, strengthening political commitment and developing the technical capacity needed to implement and monitor restoration programmes.
It concludes that restoration targets must translate into sustained ecological recovery rather than remain numerical commitments. Preventing further degradation and ensuring that restored ecosystems continue to recover will be essential to securing long-term benefits for biodiversity, climate resilience and human well-being.
Earth
Greener Forests, Weaker Carbon Sinks? Study Finds Declining Productivity in Northeast India
A 24-year satellite-based study finds that Northeast India’s forests are experiencing declining carbon productivity despite relatively stable canopy cover, highlighting how rising atmospheric dryness could weaken their capacity to absorb and retain carbon.
Forests in Northeast India are showing signs of a weakening capacity to accumulate carbon despite maintaining relatively stable canopy cover, according to a study published in Ecological Indicators in October 2026. The research suggests that increasing vegetation greenness does not necessarily indicate stronger carbon sinks, highlighting the need to assess forest health beyond satellite measurements of green cover.
Titled Are Greener Forests Stronger Carbon Sinks? Rising Vapour Pressure Deficit Instigates Greening-Productivity Decoupling in a Tropical Biodiversity Hotspot in India, the study examined forest carbon dynamics across Northeast India using 24 years of satellite-derived data from 2001 to 2024.
Researchers analysed three indicators: Leaf Area Index (LAI), Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) and Net Primary Productivity (NPP). These measurements helped assess changes in forest canopy structure, photosynthetic activity and the amount of carbon retained in plant biomass after accounting for plant respiration.
The analysis found that while canopy structure remained relatively stable and gross primary productivity increased modestly by 1.76 grams of carbon per square metre annually, net primary productivity declined by 0.83 grams of carbon per square metre annually across much of the region.
The researchers identified a divergence between canopy greenness and carbon productivity across approximately 40% of forested areas. A separate divergence between photosynthetic activity and net productivity was observed across around 30% of the region.
These findings indicate that forests can maintain their green appearance without achieving corresponding gains in carbon accumulation.
Atmospheric dryness emerges as a major factor
The study identified rising Vapour Pressure Deficit (VPD) as a primary driver of declining forest productivity. VPD measures the difference between the amount of moisture the atmosphere can hold and the moisture it actually contains. Higher VPD indicates greater atmospheric demand for water, increasing stress on vegetation.
Under such conditions, plants may close their stomata, the small pores on their leaves, to reduce water loss. This also restricts the intake of carbon dioxide required for photosynthesis, potentially reducing the amount of carbon absorbed by vegetation.
The researchers also identified a major shift in forest carbon functioning beginning around 2012. Their analysis suggests that the relationship between canopy structure, photosynthesis and net carbon accumulation has weakened over time.
The findings are particularly significant for Northeast India, which the study identifies as a climatically sensitive biodiversity hotspot containing approximately one-third of India’s forest carbon.
Earlier research points to similar concerns
The findings build on earlier research published in Scientific Reports in December 2023, which examined vegetation productivity across India between 2001 and 2019.
That study found that India’s Leaf Area Index increased by 6.75% in consistently forested areas, while Net Primary Productivity declined by 6.19%. Northeast India, the Western Ghats and parts of Peninsular India emerged as important regions experiencing declining productivity.
The 2023 research associated these changes with rising temperatures, which can reduce photosynthesis and increase plant respiration beyond certain temperature thresholds.
Another study examining a semi-deciduous forest in Kaziranga, published in Agricultural and Forest Meteorology in 2022, demonstrated how carbon exchange varies with seasonal and climatic conditions. It found that the forest functioned as a carbon sink during the pre-monsoon season but as a carbon source during winter in the observed study period.
Image of a dense forest alongside a flowing river.Image credit:Pexels
Together, these studies highlight the importance of examining forest productivity, atmospheric conditions and seasonal carbon exchange rather than relying solely on changes in green cover.
The latest research does not suggest that Northeast India’s forests are structurally collapsing. Instead, it points to a less visible change in their ecological functioning, with implications for forest carbon accounting and climate-resilient forest management.
The findings underline the need for monitoring systems that combine satellite observations with measurements of atmospheric stress and carbon productivity to better understand how tropical forests respond to a warming climate.
Earth
252 Million Hectares Under Restoration Across 149 Countries, but UN Warns of 2030 Target Gap
A UN report finds that 252 million hectares across 149 countries are under ecosystem restoration. However, increased investment and accelerated action are needed to meet global restoration targets by 2030.
Global efforts to restore degraded ecosystems have reached 252 million hectares across 149 countries, generating more than one million green jobs. However, a new United Nations assessment warns that restoration efforts remain insufficient to meet international biodiversity targets by 2030, calling for a more than fourfold increase in annual investment.
The findings are presented in the Restoration Progress Report: Nature’s Comeback – Scaling Ecosystem Restoration for People and Planet, released on October 29, 2026, by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
The report provides the first comprehensive global assessment of progress towards commitments to restore approximately one billion hectares of degraded ecosystems. These commitments are linked to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls for at least 30 per cent of degraded terrestrial, freshwater, marine and coastal ecosystems to be under effective restoration by 2030.
According to the assessment, the 252 million hectares currently documented under restoration represent the largest recorded global restoration effort. However, this accounts for only 34 per cent of the indicative global benchmark associated with the 2030 target.
Freshwater and marine ecosystems lag behind
The report identifies considerable differences in restoration progress across regions and ecosystem types. Asia accounts for the largest share of documented restoration, with 192.2 million hectares, followed by Africa with 36.3 million hectares and Europe with 9.1 million hectares. North and Central America account for 5.8 million hectares, South America 5.4 million hectares and Oceania 3.2 million hectares.
However, the report cautions that these figures should not be interpreted as a ranking of restoration performance, as they also reflect differences in regional land area and monitoring and reporting capacities.
Restoration of terrestrial ecosystems has reached nearly half of the global 2030 target. China reports the largest terrestrial restoration area, with 127.4 million hectares, while substantial restoration activities have also been documented in Mongolia and Kazakhstan.
Progress remains considerably slower in freshwater, marine and coastal ecosystems, despite these environments experiencing rapid degradation.
A river along the side of a dense forest. Image credit: Pexels
The assessment documents 11 million hectares of freshwater ecosystems under restoration across 62 countries and 5.7 million hectares of marine and coastal ecosystems across 46 countries. The report also notes that limited monitoring and reporting may mean that actual restoration activities in these ecosystems are higher than the documented figures.
Meanwhile, the share of countries reporting implemented wetland restoration or rehabilitation programmes has increased from 8 per cent in 2022 to 54 per cent.
Restoration financing needs to increase fourfold
Insufficient investment remains a major obstacle to achieving global restoration commitments. The report estimates that annual restoration financing must increase from US$64 billion to US$296 billion by 2030, representing more than a fourfold rise.
Agroforestry requires the largest estimated annual investment, at US$87 billion, followed by restorative reforestation at US$52 billion, peatland restoration at US$44 billion and seagrass restoration at US$28 billion.
The report identifies employment generation as another potential benefit of scaling up restoration. While more than one million green jobs have already been associated with restoration initiatives, increased global investment could generate up to 32 million additional jobs by 2030.
It also highlights the potential contribution of ecosystem restoration to climate mitigation and biodiversity protection. Research cited in the assessment indicates that restoring just 15 per cent of global priority areas could capture and store 30 per cent of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions released since the Industrial Revolution and help prevent 60 per cent of projected species extinctions.
The report further identifies the participation and leadership of Indigenous Peoples and local communities as essential to ensuring long-term restoration outcomes. Secure land rights, stronger monitoring systems and sustained political commitment are among the priorities identified.
With five years remaining in the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the assessment calls on governments to move beyond isolated restoration projects towards coordinated, long-term programmes that address the underlying causes of ecosystem degradation.
It emphasises that the 2030 targets should serve as a milestone in the restoration process rather than its conclusion, as ecological recovery requires sustained action and investment beyond the end of the decade.
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