Monsoon has been deficient by 11 percent so far with August recording 22 percent less than normal rainfall, raising the prospect of lower foodgrains production for the Kharif season than 2014 if the situation does not improve in September.
"This month, the deficiency was 22 percent," Laxman Singh Rathore, Director General of the India Meteorological Department, said.
June witnessed excess precipitation of 16 percent, while there was a monsoon deficit of 16 percent in July. IMD had predicted around 16 percent deficient rainfall during August and September.
Amid bleak monsoon prediction for the next month too, Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), the government's premier agri-research body, said the initial Kharif production may fall below 2014's level of 126.31 million tonnes if crucial September rains are not well distributed.
Overall, the country has recorded a deficit of 11 percent until now with the southern peninsula witnessing the highest deficiency of 21 percent and 10 percent in centralIndia.
Some parts of the country, including the Marathwada and central regionS of Maharashtra have recorded minus 50 and minus 40 percent rains, while north interior Karnataka had monsoon deficiency of 43 percent. These regions are experiencing drought-like conditions, sources said.
The IMD said 51 percent of the country has so far received normal rainfall, while 36 percent experienced deficient monsoon and 13 percent excess precipitation.
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