Prolonged dry weather conditions in Uttarakhand have begun to severely affect agriculture and winter tourism, with wheat and mustard crops reporting losses of up to 25 percent in parts of Chamoli district.
Farmers in Chamoli said there has been no rainfall or adequate snowfall since November, which has disrupted the normal growth cycle of rabi crops. Due to moisture deficiency, wheat growth has slowed, while mustard crops have started turning yellow earlier than expected, indicating stress conditions.
Local cultivators from Nandnagar block, including Mathura Prasad Tripathi of Saiti village, Mohan Singh Danu from Lankhi, Dinesh Singh Negi from Bangali, and Suri Kathait of Bhenti, said crops are on the verge of failure if rainfall does not occur soon. They added that farmers are now relying on the traditional expectation of rainfall around Basant Panchami.
Chief Agriculture Officer of Chamoli, J P Tiwari, confirmed that wheat and mustard crops across the district have already suffered 20 to 25 percent damage due to the absence of rain. He warned that if rainfall does not occur within the next few days, barley and lentil crops could also be badly affected, potentially creating drought-like conditions in some areas.
Although light snowfall has occurred in higher altitude regions, officials said it has been insufficient. Large stretches of the Himalayan ranges remain dry, directly impacting soil moisture levels and agricultural productivity in the lower and mid-altitude villages.
The lack of snowfall has also slowed winter tourism activities in the district. Tourism-linked livelihoods in areas such as Auli, Niti Valley, Urgam Valley, and surrounding regions have been affected. Usually, snowfall during winter months attracts tourists, but the absence of snow this season has resulted in minimal tourist movement.
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In destinations like Auli, where winter tourism generates most of the annual income within just two months, the delay in snowfall has raised concerns among local businesses. Officials and residents are now awaiting weather changes, as both agriculture and tourism remain dependent on rainfall and snowfall in the coming weeks.
