MUMBAI, August 11 (Reuters) – India is bracing for a period of below-average monsoon rainfall across its western, central, and southern regions over the next two weeks, according to two senior weather officials. This forecast raises concerns for newly planted cotton, soybean, corn, and pulse crops.
The monsoon season, which provides approximately 70% of India’s annual rainfall, is critical for replenishing the nation’s vital water sources. With nearly half of its farmland lacking irrigation and agriculture supporting roughly half of its population, the nearly $4 trillion economy is heavily reliant on consistent monsoon rains.
While some eastern and northern states may see continued rainfall, most parts of India are expected to experience a reduction in precipitation over the coming fortnight. A senior official with the India Meteorological Department, who requested anonymity due to not being authorized to speak to the media, stated, “The rainfall deficit could be quite significant in western and southern states during this period.”
Since its commencement on June 1, the current monsoon season has seen 12% less rainfall than the average. Some states, such as Andhra Pradesh in the south, have recorded deficits as high as 34%. This deficit is projected to worsen by the end of the month, as a strengthening El Nino weather pattern is expected to further reduce rainfall in the coming weeks. Another weather department official warned that minimum and maximum temperatures are also likely to rise and remain above normal in the same period.
Farmers had increased the planting of summer-sown crops, including soybeans, cotton, corn, pulses, and paddy, after near-normal rainfall in July had boosted soil moisture. However, the roots of these newly planted crops have not yet penetrated deeply into the soil, rendering them highly susceptible to damage from a prolonged dry spell, explained a Mumbai-based dealer from a global trade house.
As of August 7, summer-sown crops had been planted across 96.8 million hectares, a figure nearly 2% lower than the previous year, according to data compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Toby Chopra)
