Monsoon to resume withdrawal from next week

India's southwest monsoon, that had started withdrawing from parts of west Rajasthan some days ago, will again resume its backward march from next week, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its weekly update on Thursday.

The rains so far in the southwest monsoon season, with just 10 days left for the season to end, are estimated to be five per cent below normal, while in southern and eastern parts of the country, are expected to be 10 per cent and 13 per cent below normal.

In central India, southwest monsoon from June 1 to September 21 has been three per cent above normal, while in northwest India, comprising of major grain-producing states Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, among others, is estimated to be four per cent below normal.

With only 10 days left for monsoon to withdraw, the deficit might not narrow much. IMD officials say monsoon is expected to be 97-98 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA), which is lower than the previous estimate of 106 per cent of LPA, with an error margin of plus and minus four per cent. LPA is the average rainfall India got in 50 years starting from 1951.

Good rains ensured water level in the reservoirs reached a comfortable level and till Thursday it was around 111.0 billion cubic metres, which was 70 per cent of their full capacity.

Good rains in July and August also pushed up kharif acreage, kindling hopes of a bumper harvest this year.

By the first advance estimate of 2016 kharif crop released on Thursday, India's grain production this year is expected to be at an all-time of 135 million tonnes, topping previous record set in 2011-12.