Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh’s cumulative monsoon deficit has widened to nearly 45% following an unprecedented shortfall in rainfall during Aug across both coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema districts, adversely impacting kharif sowing and leaving farmers losing hope of significant rainfall this month.The state’s rainfall deficit, measured from June 1, stood at 38% at the end of July but increased to nearly 45% by Aug-end. Between June 1 and Aug 31, Andhra Pradesh received 204.3mm of rainfall against the season’s normal of 369.5mm, marking an overall deficit of about 45%.While the country’s cumulative monsoon rainfall deficit stood at nearly 14% at the end of Aug, AP recorded a staggering 45%, more than three times the national average. All 28 districts in the state are currently rainfall-deficient. Of them, 25 fall under the ‘deficit’ category, while Annamayya, Prakasam, and Bapatla are experiencing ‘severe deficit’ conditions.The uneven monsoon has also affected kharif cultivation — the total sown area for the 2026 season stands at 20.35 lakh hectares, compared with 25.63 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year.Meteorologists attributed the poor and uneven rainfall largely to El Niño conditions, which led to a sharp deterioration in rainfall during Aug, the worst-performing monsoon month this year.According to IMD data, Annamayya district recorded the highest rainfall deficit at 69%, followed by Bapatla and Prakasam districts, each with a 59% deficit. Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema and Anantapur districts reported the lowest shortfall at 24%.The prolonged dry spell throughout Aug has raised concerns in several districts, with the fate of standing kharif crops, including paddy, hanging in the balance. “If rains do not resume within the next few weeks, substantial crop losses are likely,” said B Ramu Naidu, a farmer from north Andhra. The extent of yield loss will depend on any revival in rainfall, he added.