Monsoon rains above normal, crop yield may touch record high

The four-month southwest monsoon, which began in June, ended on Friday with almost two per cent above normal rains, contrary to the met office estimate of below-normal rains.

Good rainfall across most parts of India has raised the prospects of a bumper harvest not only during the current kharif season, but in the rabi season. Experts said the late surge in showers is expected to provide adequate moisture to the soil. Of the four major regions, the southwest monsoon has been most vigorous this year over central India and worst in east and north-eastern parts of the country.

Rainfall over central parts, including Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, has been around 11 per cent above normal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a statement on Friday. It said the monsoon has completely withdrawn from northwest and central India and will soon receded from other parts within the next few days.

Following a good monsoon the water has also risen at a comfortable level in 81 major reservoirs across India. According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), water levels in the reservoirs is estimated to be 131.49 billion cubic centimeters as of on Friday, which is 118 per cent of last year's storage and 128 per cent of the average of last 10 years.

The agriculture ministry, in its first advanced estimate for 2011-2012 kharif season, has pegged foodgrain production at a record 123.88 million tonnes, up 3.06 per cent from last year.