Below-Normal Monsoon in July: How to Manage Water Stress in Kharif Rice and Cotton

July rainfall is forecast below normal. Learn to spot water stress early in rice and cotton, adjust irrigation timing, and protect your kharif yield.

July is the heart of the kharif season—when rice and cotton need steady water to build strong roots and set yield. But this year, the India Meteorological Department has forecast **below-normal rainfall across much of India in July 2026** ([Bloomberg](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisgFBVV95cUxPOEtQSklBVjlKTXdWWDh0UGM4dzg0YmhoRlNpLXo5dUd2Z2Q0OWlEeUlVbnF0dVdoTnVzTHBhbUpwYXZJcGU1bG00WGhjWEFOQTdJTl9WaE5vOWM1TUJ …