# Weak monsoon has Palamu farmers worried, but this low-water crop promises double the profit of paddy

> With a weak monsoon threatening paddy yields in Jharkhand's Palamu district, agricultural scientist Dr. Akhilesh Shah is advising farmers to switch to finger millet (Madua), a low-water crop that can fetch nearly double the input cost in profit.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Jharkhand · **Published:** 2026-07-18 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/jharkhand/manasuna-kamajora-to-dhana-ki-jagaha-marua-palamu-ke-vaijnanika-ne-bataya-kama-barisha-men-bhi-doguna-kamai-vala-tarika-8496 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Madua farming, Finger millet farming, Palamu Jharkhand, El Nino monsoon, Paddy farming, Birsa Madua-3, Weed control

Farmers in Jharkhand's Palamu district are staring at a tough season this year, as the El Nino effect has weakened the monsoon and left several areas with rainfall well below normal levels. In fields where paddy transplanting hasn't happened yet, growers are watching the skies and waiting for enough rain to start work.

## Why a rain shortfall threatens the paddy crop directly
Agricultural experts warn that if rainfall stays this scarce in the coming days, paddy yields could take a serious hit, because a delay in transplanting leaves plants without enough time to mature fully and cuts straight into the final harvest. Palamu sits in a rain shadow zone, meaning the surrounding hills naturally block moisture and the district gets less rainfall than nearby regions even in a normal year. Given this, experts are urging farmers not to depend on paddy alone and to keep a backup plan, or Plan B, ready so that losses stay limited and income doesn't take a big hit even if the monsoon disappoints.

## Why Madua is making a comeback
Dr. Akhilesh Shah, an agricultural scientist at the Regional Research Centre in Chianki, is advising farmers to grow Madua, or finger millet, in place of paddy. He points out that Madua was once cultivated widely across nearly every part of Jharkhand, but its acreage shrank steadily as paddy farming expanded over the years. Now, with shifting weather patterns, declining rainfall and rising market demand, Madua is turning back into a profitable crop for farmers. According to Dr. Shah, the crop grows well even on medium-quality land and delivers a good yield with far less water, making it a strong option for drought-hit or low-rainfall regions. He cautioned, though, that weed control in the early growth stage is critical, since letting weeds go unchecked slows plant growth and can pull production down.

## How to keep weeds under control
For weed control, Dr. Shah recommends using the herbicide pendimethalin, mixed at 5 millilitres per litre of water and sprayed across the field. Farmers who would rather skip spraying can instead mix roughly 1 litre of the chemical per acre into fertiliser and spread it evenly over the field. Both methods keep weeds effectively in check, which helps plants grow better and improves the odds of a stronger harvest.

## Which variety to choose, and how much farmers can earn
On variety selection, Birsa Agricultural University in Ranchi has developed Birsa Madua-3, a variety suited to Jharkhand's climate that delivers a good yield. Growing it costs roughly Rs 22,000 to Rs 24,000 per acre. If farmers use the right technique and manage to fetch a fair price in the market, they can earn close to double that cost back in profit.

## Rising health awareness is driving demand
Growing health consciousness among consumers is pushing up demand for Madua, and products made from it, such as flour, biscuits, cookies and porridge, are fetching good prices in the market, giving farmers an added source of income. With El Nino putting paddy farming at risk, switching to a crop like Madua could help farmers avoid losses altogether while also boosting their earnings.

## What this means for you
- **Across India:** States facing a weak monsoon this year could see paddy yields drop, making low-water crops like Madua a more reliable backup option for farmers.
- **In Palamu, Jharkhand:** Farmers who haven't yet transplanted paddy can switch to Madua and earn nearly double their input cost of Rs 22,000 to Rs 24,000 per acre in profit.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Why has the paddy farming crisis deepened in Palamu this year?
The El Nino effect has weakened the monsoon and several districts have seen rainfall well below normal, leaving farmers who haven't yet transplanted paddy waiting for rain.

### 2. What crop are farmers being advised to grow instead of paddy?
Dr. Akhilesh Shah, a scientist at the Regional Research Centre in Chianki, is advising farmers to grow Madua, or finger millet, instead of paddy.

### 3. Which variety of Madua is recommended?
Birsa Madua-3, developed by Birsa Agricultural University in Ranchi, is suited to Jharkhand's climate and delivers a good yield.

### 4. How much does Madua farming cost and how much profit can it bring?
It costs roughly Rs 22,000 to Rs 24,000 per acre, and with the right technique and a fair market price, farmers can earn close to double that cost in profit.

### 5. How can farmers control weeds in Madua fields?
Pendimethalin can be mixed at 5 millilitres per litre of water and sprayed, or about 1 litre per acre can be mixed into fertiliser and spread evenly over the field.

### 6. Why is demand for Madua rising in the market?
Growing health consciousness is boosting demand for Madua-based products like flour, biscuits, cookies and porridge, which are fetching good prices.

---
_TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._