Based on the Monthly Outlook for Rainfall and temperature during July,2026 - Monthly average rainfall over the country as a whole during July 2026 is most likely to be below normal. Maximum temperatures are expected to remain above normal across most parts of India.
General Advisory
1. Clean field boundaries and remove alternate weed hosts to reduce pest/ disease pressure.
2. If sowing is delayed, switch to short duration, drought resistant varieties of paddy, millets, pulses or oilseeds. Do not apply chemical fertilizers or urea to dry soil. Wait for adequate soil moisture or rainfall before applying nutrients.
3. Avoid relying entirely on a single crop; intercrop with drought-tolerant legumes to balance risk.
4. If fields cannot be flooded for transplanting, switch to Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) by sowing pre-germinated seeds directly into unpuddled, moist soil. This saves up to 30% of water.
5. Plaster and raise the height of field bunds immediately to trap every drop of rain from unexpected showers.
6. Do not apply basal fertilizer (like Urea or DAP) into dry, unpuddled soil. Wait until there is sufficient moisture or rain
7. Immediately fix, pack, and plaster your main field bunds with mud to prevent any water leakage when it does rain.
8. Alternative crops: Prepare to plant maize, pulses (like black gram), or oilseeds if the rain fails completely
9. Plough deep: Heavy turning of the soil helps it hold onto moisture when it does rain.
10. Dry, hot weather favors sucking pests like aphids. Regularly monitor your fields.
Plant Breeding & Genetics –Harendra Verma
1. Farmers are advised to apply FYM@ 5 tonnes/ha in rice, soyabean and other crops to maintain soil fertility.
2. In case of rice, transplant 21 days old rice seedlings having a duration of 120 days and transplant seedling with age of 30 days having > than 10 days duration.
3. Mix 5kg of azotobacter (powder) per hectare in 50 to 100 litres of water to create a slurry and dip rice seedling for 8-12 hours and then transplant.
4. Apply azolla culture in lowland rice fields.
5. Apply rhizobium @200ml/ha in soyabean.
6. Provision of drainage should be made in crops to avoid damage caused by water logging especially in maize.
7. For management of insect and disease, apply bio pesticides only if necessary.
Plant Pathology – Lireni Kikon
1. Paddy- For soil borne and seedling diseases and to enhance seedling vigor –
Treat the seeds before sowing in nursery with bioagents (Trichoderma harziannum @ 6-10g/kg seed). Mix the Trichoderma with about 10 ml of water and dip 1 kg seeds. Shade dry it for about 30 minutes and sow it immediately or within 24 hours.
Before transplanting, treat the seedlings by dipping them in a suspension of T harziannum or P fluorescens for 20-30 minutes.
2. Cucurbits: The prevailing weather conditions are conducive for the development of downy mildew, powdery mildew, anthracnose and fruit rot. Therefore, maintain proper drainage, avoid excess nitrogen application, maintain field sanitation and regularly monitor the field or crop for timely and effective disease management.
Spices, Plantation, Medicinal & Aromatic plants – Azeze Seyie
1. Litchi: Prune trees immediately after harvesting; Apply organic manures around the base of the tree; Remove litchi mite infested shoots and burn them.
2. Ginger: Earthing up and weeding to be done to ensure clean cultivation in the field and aeration of soil; Monitor for shoot-borer infestation and bacterial or fungal diseases in the crop.
3. Naga Mircha: Foliar application: Spray Pseudomonas fluorescens (0.5 to 1.0%) during the early flowering and fruiting stages; Apply neem-based formulations (8-10ml/litre water) to suppress secondary fungal infections and deter sucking pests that create entry points for disease.
Fruit Science –Ruth Assumi
1. After onset of monsoon, high humidity coupled with water stagnation due to continuous rainfall may trigger incidences of diseases in fruit trees or fruit orchards. As a preventive measure against diseases, proper drainage arrangement is required to remove excess water from the orchards.
2. Mulching with leaves or grass around the fruit tree basin to reduce rate of evapotranspiration due to rising temperatures.
3. With the onset of monsoon, plantation of suitable fruit crops may be initiated.
Poultry –Dr. Pedenuo Shuya
1. With July’s heavy monsoon and high humidity, repair all leaks and clear outside drains immediately to prevent rainwater from flooding the shed.
2. Hang gunny bags or plastic curtains on sidewalls to stop rain from splashing inside while also ensuring proper ventilation.
3. Provide clean drinking water and add electrolyte or multivitamins to reduce stress and boost immunity.
4. Store feed on raised platform away from wet floors and walls to keep feed dry and free from mould.
Piggery – Dr Ruth Newmai
1. With prevailing ASF (African swine fever) breakout, continue to maintain strict biosecurity. Use footbaths. Avoid visitors in the farm and movement of animals.
2. Avoid overcrowding, ensure good ventilation and continuous airflow using fans to mitigate heat stress. Provide access to fresh drinking water at all hours to regulate body temperature.
3. Keep the sheds dry and clear all surrounding drains to prevent waterlogging and subsequent insect breeding around the pig sheds.
4. Thoroughly clean and disinfect
5. Move, feed or vaccinate pigs only during the cooler early morning or late evening hours.
6. Humidity causes feed to spoil or develop mold rapidly. Store feed in a dry place and remove leftover feed to avoid microbial growth.
Fishery – Jyotish Barman
For ponds where fingerlings have been stocked
To combat high temperature, put some floating aquatic plant in one corner of the pond to provide shelter for the stocked fish. The covered area should not exceed one-fourth of the total water surface area.
Control entry of surface runoff water into the pond. Strengthen the outlet
Continuously monitor fish activities and movement every morning, noon and evening. At early morning hours the fish may come to surface to gulp air or breathe. If such symptoms are observed, immediately mix the pond water by splashing or by pumping fresh water from nearby sources.
Feeding with traditional or compounded feed available in the market may be continued.
For ponds where fingerlings have not been stocked
Ponds that are filled with water, stocking to be completed. Release fingerlings in early hours or in the evening, when the temperature of water is cool.
For ponds with 4-5 feet depth, 3-4 species composition should be stocked.
Precautionary measures
Sometimes due to heavy rainfall, there are chances of water overflowing in some ponds. This may result in escaping of stocked fish. To avoid escape of fish, provide net/mesh barricade or fencing at the point of overflow or around the pond surface area.
Application of lime, fertilizers and manure should not be done on rainy or cloudy days.
