Mumbai: India’s monsoon rains are likely to remain subdued over central, western and southern parts of the country over the next week, the government said in a statement.
Maharashtra, the biggest producer of sugar and summer-sown pulses, Andhra Pradesh, a big source of corn, as well as guar growing areas in western Rajasthan will experience lower rainfall, it added.
The four-month monsoon is crucial for India’s agriculture, which funds the livelihood of three out of five Indians, as only 40% of the cultivated land is irrigated.
Monsoon rainfall between 1 June and 15 July was 6% above the normal long-period average, the government said.