Rainfall declines in July, negative in all regions except north-west

But in the north-west region it is also declining over the past few days

In signs of deficient monsoon, the country has experienced decline in rainfall in July and almost all regions except the north-west have started registering negative precipitation.

According to the India Meteorological Department, (IMD) from June 1 until July 8, the country has registered an overall deficit rainfall of four per cent. Incidentally, the figure until yesterday was minus two per cent.

Central India, which received a good amount of rainfall in June, has recorded a negative rainfall of minus eight per cent followed by minus seven per cent in Southern peninsula and minus four per cent in east and north-west India.

Barring north-west India, the entire country has started registering negative precipitation, but the rainfall there is also declining over the past few days.

The IMD has already predicted a "deficient" monsoon with the country expected to receive 88 per cent of rainfall. Although June recorded 16 per cent more rainfall than its normal limit, the country's weather agency has predicted eight and 10 per cent less rainfall for July and August.

Incidentally, Skymet, a private weather forecasting agency, has predicted "above normal" rainfall (104 per cent) in July, "normal" rainfall (99 per cent) in August and (96 per cent) in September.

"The two most weather active pockets during Southwest Monsoon in India are the West Coast and Northeast India. Despite maintaining a healthy normal rainfall record, the amount of rain witnessed in these places during the first week of July this year has remained on the lower side.

"Subdued rainfall activity has kept Kerala deficient by 30 per cent, coastal Karnataka by 32 per cent, and Konkan and Goa by 15 per cent," Skymet said.

Agri-research body Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) had last week said sufficient rains are required to save pulses, oilseeds and cotton crops in rain-fed areas of central and southern India. A good spell of rain is also necessary for completion of the remaining 70 per cent of sowing of kharif crops in many parts of the country, it added.

Amid forecast of deficit rains this month, the government has asked farmers not to panic as contingency plans were being put in place to handle any adverse impact of a possible poor monsoon on kharif crops.