Farmers across India are staring at a tough recovery season after unseasonal hailstorms battered Rabi crops, leaving fields damaged and incomes under pressure. 

 

With losses reported across Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and beyond, the spotlight has now shifted to the narrow Zaid window—one that experts warn could make or break farm finances this year.

 

Amid mounting uncertainty, CropLife India, the apex body of research-driven crop science companies, has issued an urgent Zaid Crop Advisory. The message is clear: act fast, act smart, and don’t miss the shrinking opportunity to recover losses.

 

The crisis has been compounded by successive western disturbances that struck just as Rabi crops were ready for harvest. The fallout has been widespread enough for the Union Agriculture Minister to order expedited crop loss assessments. In many regions, damaged fields have also delayed preparations for the Zaid sowing season, tightening an already narrow timeline.

 

At the same time, global headwinds are adding to farmers’ worries. Supply chain disruptions linked to conflict in West Asia have pushed up input costs, including crop protection products. 

 

While the government’s temporary customs duty waiver on key petrochemical inputs offers some relief, its impact is expected to be delayed. Weather risks loom large too: Skymet has forecast a below-normal monsoon at 94% of the long-period average, with a 30% chance of drought, while NOAA has flagged a 62% probability of El Niño conditions developing by mid-year. A weak monsoon could make Zaid earnings a crucial financial buffer before the Kharif season.

 

Against this backdrop, urgency defines the advisory.

 

“Farmers who have suffered Rabi losses cannot afford to miss the Zaid window. Every week of delay in sowing compresses the growing period and directly reduces yields. Our advisory focuses on what farmers can act on right now, selecting heat-tolerant varieties, ensuring irrigation every five to seven days, using mulch to conserve moisture and regular scouting for pests such as red spider mites, aphids and fruit flies, whose cycles accelerate in summer heat. 

 

"With residual moisture from unseasonal rain still present in some areas, vigilance against fungal diseases is equally important. Timely, need-based use of crop protection products, in line with label directions and Good Agricultural Practices, can make a significant difference in protecting yields during this short but vital season,” said Durgesh Chandra, Secretary General, CropLife India.

 

The advisory also raises a red flag on market risks as cost pressures persist.

 

“While the evolving geopolitical situation offers some near-term relief to supply chains, uncertainty remains and cost pressures have not fully eased. In such an environment, supply gaps and price volatility increase the risk of counterfeit or substandard crop protection products entering the market. 

 

"This is a particular concern during the Zaid season, where even one failed spray application on a short-duration crop can result in total yield loss. Farmers must purchase only from licensed dealers, verify product authenticity and strictly follow label and leaflet directions,” Chandra added.

 

The Zaid season, running from March to June, offers farmers a short but critical chance to stabilise incomes. 

 

The advisory outlines a tight playbook: early sowing to beat the monsoon, drip irrigation to manage peak summer heat, moisture conservation through mulching, and vigilant pest and disease monitoring. It also pushes for faster land preparation through mechanisation and intercropping with legumes like moong to sustain soil health.

 

With weather uncertainty, rising costs, and damaged fields converging into a high-stakes season, the message from CropLife India is unmistakable—this summer crop cycle is no longer optional. It is essential.