Timely monsoon to benefit three million families

Monsoon is likely to be on time this year in Chhattisgarh. The state has been witnessing delay in the onset of rains for the last two years.

Normally, south-west monsoon enters Chhattisgarh through Bastar region 15 days after breaking in Kerala. It takes usually a week for the rain to hit Chhattisgarh after the monsoon breaks in Orissa.

According to agriculture department officials, monsoon is likely to break in Chhattisgarh between June 15 and June 20, which is normal. The capital city will get the first monsoon showers by June 19, they added.

In last six years, monsoon has hit the state as per schedule only once in 2008. According to records available with the state agriculture department, monsoon entered Chhattisgarh on June 12 in 2008.

In 2005, 2006 and 2007, monsoon had reached Chhattisgarh on June 24. In 2009, Chhattisgarh witnessed the first rain of the season on June 20 while monsoon was delayed in 2010 as it entered the state only after June 28.

Experts predict that state could witness about 1,300 mmof rains this year. Last year, total rain recorded in the state was 1,205.8 mm. The average rainfall of the paddy-growing Chhattisgarh is 1337 mm.

Normal rainfall, this year, is likely to benefit about three million families of farmers in the state. Experts are, however, avoiding to reach any conclusion. “Last year, normal monsoon was predicted but a dry spell prevailed soon after the onset,” an expert said, adding that though there was recovery later, a few pockets of northern region faced severe drought.