Monsoon improves, but pockets remain dry

Skymet says rains will be normal in August

Southwest monsoon has shown marked improvement over central and eastern parts of India in the past few days, narrowing the cumulative deficiency for July to 15 per cent from a high of 50 per cent.

However, the situation is worrisome in parts of central Maharashtra, Marathwada, Rayalseema region of Andhra Pradesh, some districts of Telangana, and north interior Karnataka, where the total seasonal shortfall so far has been 50 per cent.

The cumulative rainfall shortfall across the country from June 1 to July 28 has come down from seven per cent to four per cent in the past few days and could drop below two per cent by the month-end on the back of improvement in showers.

Private weather forecasting agency Skymet in its latest weather update said good run of southwest monsoon was likely to continue till the first week of August. It expects monsoon to be normal for the whole of August at 98 per cent of 50-year long period average.

Delhi is expected to get good rains around the first week of August, which would give the much-needed respite from the sultry conditions, Skymet said.

“The current deep depression over Bay of Bengal and Rajasthan will continue till the first week of August, which will lead to good rains and thereafter too low pressure will keep on building, which will cause rains to continue with breaks of 3-4 days,” said Mahesh Palawat, chief meteorologist at Skymet.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), meanwhile, said the prospects of summer crops such as rice, pulses and oilseeds are ‘good’ in most parts of the country, barring some interior parts of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka.

Around 50 per cent of the sowing of summer crops has been completed so far in this kharif season and farmers have taken up pulses, oilseeds and coarse cereals in a big way, according to the latest data of the agriculture ministry.

“The situation is not good in central Maharashtra, Marathwada, Rayalseema region of Andhra Pradesh, some districts of Telangana and north interior Karnataka. These areas have received lower rains and there are concerns about crop prospects,” IMD director-general Laxman Singh Rathore told news agency PTI.

The situation in northern India is good barring some parts in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, he said, adding, “The crop situation in rest of the country is good”.

J S Sandhu, deputy director-general (crop science), at Indian Council of Agricultural Research, said, “There is 50 per cent rainfall shortage in some regions in these four states. This is acute deficit and obviously there will be some impact on pulses, coarse cereals and cotton.”