Introduction
This agricultural advisory is based on the National Agromet Advisory Service Bulletin dated 14 August 2025, issued by the Agricultural Meteorology Division, India Meteorological Department, Pune. It provides tailored guidance for farmers in Northeast India, covering Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura, to optimize crop management amidst forecasted weather conditions.
Rainfall Overview
Significant rainfall was recorded across most districts of Assam, except Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, and in all districts of Meghalaya, except South West Garo Hills. In Manipur, rainfall occurred in all districts except Imphal East and Thoubal, while Aizwal in Mizoram and most districts of Nagaland and Tripura experienced rainfall. In Arunachal Pradesh, most districts received rainfall, except Anjaw, Upper Siang, and West Siang.
Weather Forecast and General Advisory
Rain and thundershowers are expected at many places in Arunachal Pradesh within the next 24 hours and across Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura over the next four to five days. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in Assam and Meghalaya on 16 August, and heavy rainfall is anticipated in Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura over the next five days, as well as in Arunachal Pradesh on 14, 16, and 17 August, and in Assam and Meghalaya on 14 and 17 August. Farmers are advised to postpone irrigation, intercultural operations, and the application of fertilizers and plant protection measures. Ensure adequate drainage in crop fields to prevent waterlogging.
Crop-Specific Advisories
Arunachal Pradesh
Maintain proper drainage in rice fields, keeping water levels at 5-7 cm. Ensure drainage channels are clear in finger millet, banana, and chilli fields. Postpone fertilizer application in finger millets. Due to the heavy rainfall forecast, harvest nearly ripened banana bunches and store them in a dry, safe place for ripening. On sloped land, use banana stems, logs, or stones to prevent soil and water runoff. Harvest matured chilli fruits immediately and use straw or dry leaf mulch in chilli fields to reduce rain impact. Regularly remove fallen fruits and leaves to prevent disease spread.
Assam
Hill Zone
Complete weeding in sesame at the vegetative stage promptly. Ensure proper drainage in sugarcane fields by creating small channels or ridges. Monitor Sali rice for blast infestation; if 5% of the leaf area is affected, apply Hexaconazole 5EC at 2ml per litre of water at the tillering stage, followed by two sprays of Edifenphos at 1ml per litre at panicle initiation and when the panicle tip emerges, during clear weather. Sow green gram and black gram from mid-August to mid-September under optimal soil moisture conditions.
Lower Brahmaputra Valley Zone
If damage to rice hills is observed, undertake gap filling using healthy hills of the same age. Apply Urea at 4.5kg per bigha during the tillering stage in rain-free weather. Continue sowing green gram, red gram, and sesame, and complete nursery sowing of early cauliflower and brinjal. In flood-affected areas of Dubri district, sow short-duration, high-yielding Sali rice varieties in nursery beds. As rain subsides, sow sesame using recommended varieties.
Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone
In areas where crops were damaged or sowing was delayed due to insufficient water, undertake nursery sowing of photo-insensitive, short-duration (90-100 days) rice varieties like Luit, Kopilee, and Dishang. Continue sowing green gram and black gram, and complete sowing of early cauliflower varieties.
Barak Valley Zone
Complete transplanting of 25-30-day-old Sali rice, planting 2-3 seedlings per hill. Finish sowing field beans by the end of August. For swarming caterpillar infestations, install 5-6 T-perches or bird stands per bigha above the crop canopy to attract insectivorous birds, removing them before flowering to avoid granivorous bird activity. For immediate control, spray Fipronil at 2ml per litre of water, and in severely infested areas, flood fields to expose larvae.
Central Brahmaputra Valley Zone
Continue harvesting jute. Perform gap filling within 7-10 days after transplanting using seedlings of the same age. If one damaged leaf per hill due to leaf folder or one adult hispa per hill is observed in Sali rice, spray Chlorpyriphos 20EC or Monocrotophos 40EC at 1.5ml per litre of water during clear weather. Install approximately seven bamboo T-perches per bigha in rice fields. Sow green gram and black gram using high-yielding varieties.
North Bank Plain Zone
Continue transplanting short-duration Sali rice in the main field. Drain excess water in low-lying areas for better aeration. Control rice hispa, leaf folder, case worm, and army worm by spraying Chlorpyriphos 20EC or Quinalphos 25EC at 2.0-2.5ml per litre of water during clear weather. Install 7-8 bamboo T-perches per bigha in paddy fields. Sow black gram on ridges and furrows, and complete sesame sowing.
Meghalaya
Ensure proper drainage in rice, maize, okra, bottle gourd, chilli, and turmeric fields to avoid waterlogging. Clear all field channels to facilitate smooth runoff during heavy rainfall.
Manipur
Monitor paddy fields for insect and pest infestations. Maintain appropriate water levels and perform weeding manually or with a cono-weeder. In maize, finger millet, soybean, black gram, ginger, turmeric, vegetables, and orchards, prevent waterlogging, perform weeding when soil moisture is optimal, and monitor for pests and diseases.
Mizoram
Maintain drainage channels to remove excess rainwater from crop fields and keep water levels in lowland rice at 4-6 cm. Suspend fertilizer and pesticide applications or apply them based on local weather conditions. Begin field preparation for strawberry cultivation.
Tripura
Keep rice fields weed-free and apply split doses of Urea as per soil health card recommendations. The weather is suitable for intercultural operations and fertilizer application. For fruit fly infestations in cucumber fields, remove infested fruits and use pheromone traps to attract and destroy the insects.
Nagaland
Maintain a 2-5 cm water level in rice fields and drain excess water. Harvest matured maize during clear weather, avoiding immediate post-rain harvesting, and dry cobs thoroughly before shelling. Perform light earthing up in colocasia to prevent tuber exposure and greening. For mealy bug infestations in tapioca, remove and burn affected parts at the initial stage.
Fisheries Advisory
In Assam, maintain fishery pond pH by applying Calcium Carbonate at 250 kg annually. For pond fish farming, provide supplementary feeding with a 1:1 mixture of rice bran and mustard oil cake, supplied on feeding trays or in bags at varying water depths. Maintain weed-free conditions to increase dissolved oxygen levels in pond water.
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