The slow progress of the monsoon, which irrigates more than half of India’s farms, may worsen the drought-like situation prevailing in many States with an overall 45 per cent rain deficiency recorded till June 18 since its advent on June 8.
The monsoon is yet to mark its arrival in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Odisha. The country has so far received 46.1 mm of rainfall against the normal of 82.4 mm for this time.
Due to deficiency of rainfall, kharif sowing area was 82.20 lakh hectares compared to 90.34 lakh hectares during the corresponding week in 2018-19. The Telangana Government has issued advisory asking farmers not to rush into sowing. The farmers are also advised not to grow maize on light soils.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), south peninsula, including Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, are witnessing deficient rains of over 38 percent till June 18. “As many as 14 subdivisions, including drought-ridden Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, are facing a deficiency of more than 60 per cent,” the IMD said.
IMD’s Director General Dr KJ Ramesh said the monsoon should have reached Central India till June 18. But this year it hasn’t even covered Karnataka properly or entered the Northeast.
The East and North East region recorded 43 per cent rain deficiency while North West recorded 27 per cent deficiency. Except Lakshadweep, all subdivisions of meteorological department recorded deficient rainfall till date.
June-to-September monsoon made a delayed onset over the Kerala coast on 8 June and has been advancing at a sluggish pace over the mainland. It lost momentum because of Cyclone Vayu, whose formation in the Arabian Sea coincided with the monsoon onset and ended up draining it of moisture. The cyclone eventually drifted away from the Gujarat coast. Adequate rainfall in the monsoon season is critical for India’s agricultural output and the overall economy. A deficit rainfall during the early part of the season could delay sowing and reduce crop output even if rainfall gathers pace later.
According to IMD, the delayed southwest monsoon is now expected to arrive in Maharashtra by June 21. The much-awaited monsoon is expected to reach southern Konkan and Goa by June 21, and is likely to cover the entire Maharashtra by June 24 or 25.