Monsoon above normal in June-July, to boost agriculture

NEW DELHI: Southwest monsoon has been above normal in the first two months of the June-September season, giving a boost to farm output, a senior weather department official said on Thursday.

"We have not only received rains which are 108 per cent of the long-period average but showers have been evenly spread. It is ideal for the crops," said S.K. Srivastava, additional director general of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

"Usually this much of rainfall can lead to flooding but the spread has been so good that the flood situation is not that bad," he said.

Last year the country was hit by the worst drought in 15 years with rains dipping to 70 per cent of the average in June and July.

He said rainfall in August was expected to be more than 100 per cent of the long-period average.

Sowing of winter oilseed and grain crops in most growing regions has been completed and the area covered is more than last year, traders and farm ministry officials say.

The monsoon arrived on the northeastern coast on June 5, three days behind schedule, but covered the entire country by the first week of July.

Last year, the monsoon arrived on the southern coast on schedule. But July, a vital month for agriculture, was dry, damaging oilseed and grain crops in western and central India.

Srivastava, the second most senior official in the IMD, said the withdrawal of the monsoon was expected to take place early in September. "It has been seen that after a good monsoon the withdrawal takes place a little early.

The early withdrawal is not likely to affect crops because harvesting for the winter season starts by mid-September.

A leading industry body said earlier this week the country's economy would grow 6.8 per cent in the year to March, 2004, boosted by better-than-expected monsoon rains.

NAVEEN THUKRAL
REUTERS[ FRIDAY, AUGUST 01, 2003 02:25:41 PM ]