Top 10 Smart Ways to Save Crops This Monsoon Season in India

Monsoon is a season of hope and fear for Indian farmers. It feeds the crops, but excessive rain can ruin the fields. This year, however, the danger poses an even greater threat. And this year, the challenge may be even greater.

Indian meteorologists have predicted an above-average monsoon from June, with cumulative rainfall at 106% of the typical season average. With favourable conditions over the Bay of Bengal, the monsoon is expected to cover areas of Bihar by the end of May. That is welcome news, but for farmers, that translates into preparedness for flash floods, waterlogging, and crop loss.

Since over 42% of Indians rely on agriculture, an early move is necessary. Let’s discuss how you can protect your crops during this rainy season with effective, simple, and innovative solutions.

Easy and Smart Ways to Guard Your Crops This Year

With high-tech equipment, intelligent methods, and farmer-friendly technology, now you can cultivate crops safely even in heavy rains. These new and easy methods can help safeguard your crops during the monsoon season.

1. Smart Crop Selection for Your Region

Saving your crops this year starts even before you plant, by choosing the appropriate crop. For 2025, experts recommend planting rain-resistant or climate-resilient crop varieties. For example, rice varieties that are resistant to flood, like DRR WetSecure 25 or Swarna Sub-1, can survive waterlogging for 10 to 12 days.

Similarly. If you are in a medium-rainfall area, consider experimenting with short-duration millets, green gram, or rain-resistant maize hybrids. Selecting crops and seeds based on your local climate, soil, and water availability is essential to minimize risk.

2. Build Better Drainage Systems

Heavy rain is not always the source of the problem; drainage is. A light shower can be devastating if water continues in your field for an extended amount of time. Farmers now employ furrow-and-ridge systems to enable water to drain out of the root zone readily. Raised beds are also gaining popularity, especially for vegetables, pulses, and flowers.

Most modern progressive farmers today plant grass strips or bamboo along the edge of their farms to prevent erosion. In low-lying places, gravity outlets or soakaways simply prevent water from stagnating. Good drainage is saving your soil, your plants, and your time.

3. Use Monsoon Greenhouses and Rain Shelters

For valuable crops such as tomatoes, brinjal, or capsicum, rain can destroy both quality and quantity. Monsoon greenhouse farming is, therefore, gaining ground. These greenhouses, or low-expense polyhouses, protect crops from heavy rains, pests, and diseases transmitted through moisture.

Can’t buy a whole greenhouse? Don’t worry. In 2025, the majority of farmers are using temporary, biodegradable rain shelters of green plastic or shade nets to protect fragile crops from rains. The shelters are reusable and biodegradable when idle.

4. Install Rain Sensor-Activated Irrigation Systems

Irrigation goes smart in 2025. Farmers are increasingly using rain sensor-based irrigation systems, which automatically shut off when it rains. This prevents root damage and overwatering.

Aided by drip irrigation, such systems provide every plant with the same quantity of water, which is delivered directly to the plant, saving soil and water. And some of them even have mobile apps that alert you when the level of moisture is too high.

5. Try AI-Based Crop Monitoring Apps

Farmers no longer need to make an educated guess about what is wrong with their crops. Artificial intelligence-based mobile apps, such as BharatAI Farm+ and KrishiGuard 2.0, or government-supported e-Krishi software, enable you to simply click a photo of your crop and receive instant feedback on diseases, nutrient deficiencies, or pest infestations.

You are able to obtain apps that are so advanced they even have organic or chemical applications based on your crop and region. They are available in local languages and you do not require internet connection once you have downloaded them.

6. Floating Vegetable Beds: A Brilliant Backup

In flood-hit areas such as Assam, Bihar, or coastal Odisha, farmers have been cultivating vegetables on floating beds made from materials like banana stems, coconut husks, or bamboo mats. Floating beds float on standing water, and vegetables such as okra, spinach, and amaranth can be cultivated even during floods. What was once an age-old trick is now being adopted throughout India as a modern solution to flood threats.

7. Prevent Pests & Fungus Before They Start

Monsoon is the perfect time for fungal infections and pests to attack crops. But instead of reacting late, preventive care is the smarter option. Farmers in 2025 are using a mix of:

• Neem oil sprays
• Yellow sticky traps
• Natural fungicides
• Timely pruning and crop spacing

Also, ensure good airflow in your crop fields. Dense planting can trap moisture and create the perfect environment for diseases.

8. Rotate Crops & Use Rain-Resilient Seeds

If you grow the same crop every year, your soil becomes tired and pests become stronger. That’s why crop rotation is more important than ever. After rice, try legumes or vegetables. Use certified rain-resilient seed varieties suited to your region. You can get advice from your Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) or agri-startup networks.

Some of the top rain-resilient varieties in 2025 include:

• Pusa Basmati 2025 – tolerant to water stress
• Arka Samrat Tomato – suited for polyhouse monsoon growing
• ICAR Arhar 2025 – shorter duration and pest-resistant

9. Use Hyperlocal Weather Forecasting Tools

Instead of relying on news channels, farmers currently rely on hyperlocal weather forecasts provided by apps like Skymet Farmer Pro, IMD eAgri, or cooperative local services. These apps provide village-level rain alerts, 3-day forecasts, and spray advisory updates.

By doing so, you can plan when to plant, spray, harvest, or cover your crops without fear and uncertainty.

10. Enact Weather-Based Crop Insurance

No matter how much you plan, nature is unpredictable. That’s why weather crop insurance is a must in 2025. The new PMFBY (Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana) has introduced auto-claim settlement based on satellite data. You don’t even need to file a claim — if there is excess rain in your block, the insurance is triggered automatically.

Private players such as CropSure and Bharat Re Bima also offer crop insurance seasonally at affordable premiums. It’s better to be insured than to regret it afterwards.

Conclusion

Farming during the rainy season doesn’t have to feel like gambling anymore. With the help of smart tools, improved crop varieties, simple water-saving techniques, and AI-based monitoring, farmers across India can now fight the monsoon, not fear it.