<p>The monsoon is seen progressing from June 5 towards Karnataka, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).<br /><br />After a year of drought that resulted in a loss of 16 million tonnes of foodgrain, the seasonal rain hit Kerala on May 31 as forecast by the IMD.<br /><br /> Agriculture Secretary P K Basu said: “Monsoon is seen progressing from June 5 towards Karnataka. The South-west monsoon has paused due to the (Phet) cyclone. There is no cause of concern. As of now rains are good.”<br /><br />The monsoon is expected to cover coastal parts of Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra while the interior parts of the peninsula are expected to receive monsoon rainfall in the next spell. “Overall we expect good monsoon for India this year,” said IMD Director-General Ajit Tyagi here.<br /><br />Tyagi met Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who reviewed the monsoon situation in the country against the backdrop of cyclone “Phet” threatening the progress of the annual rain season.<br /><br />Experts here believe that the severe cyclone churning up the Arabian Sea could have little effect on the monsoon as they forecast building up of weather patterns favourable to the annual rains.<br /><br />“We expect normal monsoon with 98 per cent (of the long period average of 89 cm) as projected earlier. There is no change,” Tyagi said when asked about the rainfall this season. “Rainfall will pick up in Kerala from June 5 ownwards,” he said. Basu said the monsoon has stopped in the tracks due to cyclone “Phet” which is expected to have landfall in coastal Pakistan and adjoining Gujarat on Friday.<br /><br />Monsoon rain is considered the lifeline of Indian agriculture that powers the economy. It is vital for kharif crops such as paddy, sugarcane, oilseeds and pulses.<br /><br />Last year, almost half of the country faced severe drought due to monsoon failure. As a result, India’s foodgrain production declined to 218.19 million tonnes in 2009-10 crop year from as against 234.47 million tonnes in the previous year.</p>
<p>The monsoon is seen progressing from June 5 towards Karnataka, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).<br /><br />After a year of drought that resulted in a loss of 16 million tonnes of foodgrain, the seasonal rain hit Kerala on May 31 as forecast by the IMD.<br /><br /> Agriculture Secretary P K Basu said: “Monsoon is seen progressing from June 5 towards Karnataka. The South-west monsoon has paused due to the (Phet) cyclone. There is no cause of concern. As of now rains are good.”<br /><br />The monsoon is expected to cover coastal parts of Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra while the interior parts of the peninsula are expected to receive monsoon rainfall in the next spell. “Overall we expect good monsoon for India this year,” said IMD Director-General Ajit Tyagi here.<br /><br />Tyagi met Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who reviewed the monsoon situation in the country against the backdrop of cyclone “Phet” threatening the progress of the annual rain season.<br /><br />Experts here believe that the severe cyclone churning up the Arabian Sea could have little effect on the monsoon as they forecast building up of weather patterns favourable to the annual rains.<br /><br />“We expect normal monsoon with 98 per cent (of the long period average of 89 cm) as projected earlier. There is no change,” Tyagi said when asked about the rainfall this season. “Rainfall will pick up in Kerala from June 5 ownwards,” he said. Basu said the monsoon has stopped in the tracks due to cyclone “Phet” which is expected to have landfall in coastal Pakistan and adjoining Gujarat on Friday.<br /><br />Monsoon rain is considered the lifeline of Indian agriculture that powers the economy. It is vital for kharif crops such as paddy, sugarcane, oilseeds and pulses.<br /><br />Last year, almost half of the country faced severe drought due to monsoon failure. As a result, India’s foodgrain production declined to 218.19 million tonnes in 2009-10 crop year from as against 234.47 million tonnes in the previous year.</p>