Monsoon gap narrows, worries remain in some areas

Of 36 meteorological sub-divisions, rainfall deficit in 15 is higher than the national average

A revival in the southwest monsoon may have narrowed India's rainfall is 17 per cent short of the normal, but several regions had received far less than the national average till August 8.

India Meteorological Department data shows after the first week of August rainfall in the worst affected states, Punjab and Haryana, was 68 per cent and 55 per cent below normal, respectively. The gap was lowest in Arunachal Pradesh and the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra at 20 per cent.

Of India's 36 meteorological sub-divisions, the rainfall deficit in 15 of them is higher than the national average.

"Crops are most vulnerable in these pockets and if it does not rain in the next few weeks the situation could turn worrisome," said a senior government official who did not wish to be named.

The nationwide rainfall now is far lower than the 25 per cent recorded in 2009, the last major drought year. The monsoon in 2009 ended with a 22 per cent shortfall. Between July 31 and August 6 this year, the country received rainfall 19 per cent above normal.

Summer crops have been planted in 80.33 million of the 107 million hectares usually sown by this time of the year.

Halfway into the monsoon season, a quarter of Indian farms are yet to sow. The biggest drop has been in coarse cereals, oilseeds and pulses, while farmland for rice is near its normal acreage.

The monsoon this year arrived four days late and then moved haltingly, raising fears of widespread drought. It gathered momentum in the second week of July.

The government has announced a diesel subsidy of 50 per cent to allow farmers to replant damaged crops.