BackMonsoon to extend lull for one week
Monsoon to extend lull for one week
PremiumMumbai: India’s annual monsoon rains are likely to extend the lull in their progress for another week, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday.
“South-west monsoon activity is not likely to revive during next one week. Consequently, the advance of monsoon over east, north peninsular and adjoining central India will to be delayed," it said on its website.
India June-September monsoon hit southern India on 23 May, ahead of normal date of 1 June, but weakened in last week of May and first week of June. Monsoon has not progressed since 7 June.
The delay may affect sowing activity in states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra and Gujarat, the main producers of soybean, cotton, sugarcane, pulses and groundnut.
In 2008, monsoon hit many parts of the country ahead of the schedule but turned inactive in June and July in central and western India, trimming yields of soybean and sugarcane.
Last week a weather department official told Reuters that despite an early beginning, Indian monsoon may progress slowly during the June-September period.
India’s June-September monsoon rains are a major influence on the farm-dependent economy as two-thirds of Indians depend on agriculture and related businesses for a living.
Summer-sown crops accounted for 52% of the annual produce last year.
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