In the desert district of Tharparkar, much-needed showers finally graced the region on Sunday, aligning with earlier predictions made by various weather websites. Reports pouring in from various talukas, including Nagarparkar, Chhachhro, Dahli, Diplo, Kaloi, Mithi, and Islamakot, confirmed that rain fell across different areas, accompanied by severe thunderstorms. This welcomed rainfall has rekindled the fading hopes of Thari farmers, who had been anxiously waiting for precipitation to salvage their crops.
The farmers had sown their crops in the final weeks of July, benefiting from heavy rains that had soaked most parts of Thar. However, the absence of rain throughout August and mid-September had severely affected their crops. Over seven weeks of continuous dry weather had pushed Tharparkar into the grips of yet another looming drought, despite earlier downpours caused by the Biparjoy Cyclone and some showers during the early monsoon season.
The current spell of monsoon, expected to last for the next three to four days, is a ray of hope for the withering crops and the livestock that depend on the region’s grasses. Tharis are optimistic that these showers will breathe new life into their crops, herbs, and shrubs, potentially yielding grains and other traditional produce.
The recent dry spell had left Thari farmers without hope of a fruitful harvest, making this long-awaited rainfall a source of renewed optimism. Tharparkar relies on six to eight heavy spells of downpours, spaced at 15 to 18-day intervals, during the three-month monsoon season to ensure proper crop growth and an adequate supply of fodder for their livestock, which forms the backbone of the region’s economy.
