India’s core monsoon zone, covering most of the rain-fed agriculture areas in the country, is predicted to receive above-normal rainfall this season. This should come as a relief to farmers.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday said that it expects above-normal rainfall in the country as a whole during the monsoon season (from June to September). Below-normal monsoon rainfall predicted in northeast India, normal in northwest, and above normal in central and south peninsular India, it added.
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal form the country’s core monsoon zone where agriculture is primarily rain-fed.
The conditions for monsoon onset over Kerala are favourable and it is likely to take place over the next five days. The IMD said the country is likely to experience normal rainfall (92-108 per cent of the long period average of 166.9 mm) in June.
Critical for agriculture
June and July are considered the most important monsoon months for agriculture because most of the sowing for the kharif crop takes place during this period.
The monsoon is critical for India’s agriculture with 52 per cent of the net cultivated area relying on it. The monsoon is also crucial for replenishing drinking water reservoirs, apart from power generation.
According to the Central Water Commission, water storage in 150 major reservoirs in India dropped to just 24 per cent of their live storage last week, worsening water shortages in many states and significantly affecting hydropower generation.
With regards to temperatures, the IMD said India would see “normal to above-normal maximum temperatures in June”. During June, above-normal heatwave days are likely over most areas of northwest India and adjoining areas of central India, the IMD bulletin added.
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