Climatic aberrations in Punjab: Impact on agriculture and contingent planning

Abstract

Climate is a major factor which decides the production potential of an area. During the recent years, Punjab has witnessed the climatic calamities, due to which rice and wheat production declined significantly. The 2015-2021 period was the warmest on record with shifting seasons, and increasing frequency of extreme weather events such as heat waves, floods and droughts are particularly evident. The catastrophic floods that struck Punjab during August-September 2025 impacted 18 out of 23 districts. Rainfall patterns have become increasingly irregular, marked by a reduction in the number of rainy days while an increase in the frequency of extreme rainfall events. Such climatic aberrations result in the crop losses that not only reduce the production but also threaten the national food and nutritional security. The article provides information on climate variability impacts on agriculture in the Punjab state and the countermeasures which can be adopted under such conditions.