Halfway through the 2025 southwest monsoon, the rain clouds have left much of Andhra Pradesh wanting. Fresh data from the India Meteorological Department show that more than 13 of the state’s 26 districts are running a rainfall deficit, with only six to eight districts managing “normal” precipitation so far. State-wide, actual rainfall between 1 June and 30 July averages 170 mm against a normal 220.9 mm—about 23 % below par. Coastal Andhra—including Visakhapatnam—and Yanam logged an 18 % shortfall, while the Rayalaseema interior is worse off at 27 %. Only Anakapalle district has recorded marginally above-normal rain this season.

Why the shortfall matters

• Slow kharif sowing: Erratic showers have allowed farmers to complete planting on barely 43 % of the usual 31.16 lakh-hectare kharif area. Key staples such as paddy and pulses are behind schedule, raising concerns over yield and food-price volatility later this year Water-storage stress: With reservoirs fed mostly by monsoon inflows, prolonged deficit rain can squeeze drinking-water supply and hydro-power generation in early 2026.

• Urban heat & health: Vizagites have already endured longer hot spells this year; fewer rainy days can worsen the urban heat-island effect and aggravate water-borne-disease risks.

Voices from the field

Agronomists at Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University warn that “timely gap-sowing windows” will close by mid-August; if rains don’t revive, farmers may have to switch to short-duration or drought-tolerant crops. District agriculture officers are urging paddy growers to keep nurseries ready but delay transplanting until fields receive at least 50 mm in a single spell.

What the government is doing

 

• Contingency crop plans for each agro-climatic zone have been circulated, recommending millets, green gram and drought-hardy maize if the deficit persists.

• The state agriculture department says it is liaising with the Centre for additional subsidised seed and fertiliser allocations, while local banks have been asked to expedite crop-loan rescheduling for affected farmers.

• In Vizag, the collectorate has begun weekly rainfall-tracking dashboards shared via farmer WhatsApp groups so growers can time operations more precisely.

• Outlook: hope on the horizon?

  Long-range IMD models still forecast a near-normal August–September for coastal Andhra, thanks to a weakening El Niño and a possible positive Indian Ocean Dipole phase. Even so, meteorologists caution that the distribution of rainfall—its timing and spatial spread—will decide whether the kharif gap can realistically be closed.

  What residents can do

  1. Harvest every drop: Rooftop rain-water harvesting can buffer household needs and reduce pressure on municipal supplies.

  2. Use water wisely: Small habits—fixing leaks, using buckets over hoses—multiply into big savings when half a state is running dry.

  3. Support local farmers: Buying directly from Rythu Bazaars or weekly shandies can inject liquidity into rural belts facing delayed incomes.

  As Vizag watches the skies, the next six weeks will be critical. A good spell could yet rescue the season; a continued lull may force a rethink of cropping plans and urban water management alike. Either way, 2025 has already reminded us how finely balanced our monsoon-dependent economy remains.