Heavy rain has pared monsoon deficiency in several parts of the country and spurred farmers into action with the sowing of crop for kharif season picking up.
The weatherman forecasted widespread rainfall across coastal Karnataka, Kerala, Konkan and Goa, parts of Madhya Pradesh and North India during the next week, which is crucial for the kharif season—delayed due to the sub-normal monsoon.The rainfall deficit as of Friday was 21 per cent below average, a significant improv
ement from the 43 per cent shortfall recorded in June.
Scientists expect the formation of a low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal by Sunday, which could bring rain to Odisha, parts of the North-east, West Bengal and Jharkhand.The elongated offshore trough from south Gujarat to Kerala is expected to bring heavy rainfall to the western coast till at least Monday.
The region is already experiencing promising rainfall, with Agumbe recording 25 cm, Dwarka (15cm), 11 cm each in Mangalore (Bajpe), Kannur and Kottayam, 6 cm each in Erinpur, Pendra Road and Madikeri, while Honavar has recorded 5 cm rain.
The Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, which plays a key role in tracking the monsoon, has forecasted that the current spell of rainfall would continue for the next fortnight.
However, there are concerns that two typhoons brewing in the western Pacific may rob the country of its share of moisture-laden winds and weaken the monsoon.
After a late start in June, the slow progress of the monsoon has forced the government to put into action contingency plans for farmers by suggesting changes in crops.
“The second half of monsoon is expected to be better than the first half,” said D Sivananda Pai, Director of the Pune-based National Climate Centre.
As of Friday, monsoon was normal in 17 of the 36 meteorological subdivisions in the country. The country has so far received 362.9 mm of monsoon rains as against the normal 461.7 mm, which is a deficiency of 21 per cent.
As per data released by the Agriculture Ministry on Friday evening, farmers have carried out sowing activities on 70.6 million hectares of land as opposed to last week’s 53.3 million hectares.
Meanwhile, the Australian weather office has lowered its warning on the possibility of the warming of the Pacific Ocean, due to the El Nino phenomenon. El Nino is one of the factors that take a toll on the Indian monsoon. On the other hand, cooling of the Pacific Ocean—La Nina—is known to bring good rainfall in the country.
