India’s rainfall surplus remained above 5 percent on September 24, as the monsoon season entered its last leg, data released by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) shows.
Fifteen of the country's 36 states and union territories received normal or above-normal rainfall on the day. Since June, 27 states have received normal or above-normal rainfall but nine states still remain deficient.
The critical summer rains hit India two days earlier this season, with Kerala getting its first monsoon showers on May 30 instead of usual June 1.
Rainfall deficit widened to 33 percent in Manipur, while neighbouring Nagaland a 32 percent short of the average for the season. Among the larger states, Bihar and Punjab have a deficit of 28 percent each.
On the other end of the spectrum, Rajasthan has got 56 percent above normal rain this season and Gujarat 41 percent.
Kharif sowing was 0.8 percent higher than the last five-year average of 110.5 million hectares, the agriculture and farmer welfare ministry data has shown. The acreage was 1.5 percent higher than normal as of September 20.
Paddy sowing remains 3 percent above average, while coarse cereals acreage shot past the five-year average by 6.4 percent.
Land under oilseeds also rose by 1.9 percent to 19.4 million hectares. Earlier this month, the government imposed a duty on edible oil imports.
Pulse sowing, however, is 5.5 percent below average and jute and cotton down more than 10 percent.
Water levels of reservoirs remain unchanged at 18 percent higher than their normal storage capacity on September 19.
Northern region continues to see a decline in reservoir levels, even as situation situation improved in the east, highlighting the uneven distribution of rain this season.
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