The MeT department said that monsoon rains in India have arrived a week earlier than originally thought. The monsoon covered about two-thirds of the country by June 14, 2013 and is heavier than usual, but the weather office is still sticking to its forecast regarding average rains during the entire four-month period.
The rain is heavier than usual and is most likely to trigger flooding, but at this stage from June to September season, the rains spur crops’ planting. For India, the biggest concern is drought during monsoon, with rains being essential as 55 percent of the farmland depends on the monsoon. Monsoon is likely to cover the entire India before the usual mid- July timing. The distribution over the major crop-growing regions is expected to be fairly even.
BP Yadav, director at the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), on June 14, 2013 said that the rainfall is expected to be at 101 percent of the long-term average in the month of July and 96 percent in the month of August of this year. These are two key months when it comes to planting and maturing of crops.
A good start for June to September monsoon will increase prospects of strong farm output.
