MC Daily Monsoon Tracker: Rainfall surplus rises further to 6.6%

Rainfall situation improves further

India’s rainfall surplus increased further to 6.6 percent on August 5, compared with 2 percent the previous week, according to the India Meteorological Department.

Rainfall has been in surplus for the last two weeks, with most of the states and Union Territories in central and southern India facing excess downpour.

The IMD has predicted above-normal rainfall for the second phase of monsoon (August-September).

Northwest parts of the country are the worst hit, with Chandigarh facing over 50 percent deficit and Punjab, a major cereals producer, witnessing 40 percent deficit.

A normal is calculated using a long-period average of 30 years for a specific region.

Sowing levels slightly improved at 2.9 percent higher from 2023 as on August 2, compared with 2.3 percent in the previous week, as rainfall situation improved.

The pickup in sowing can be attributed to a rise in paddy acreage to 5.3 percent as of August 2. Pulses area under cultivation was 10.9 percent higher compared with the previous week.

Sowing levels remain subdued compared to normal, as rainfall distribution has been uneven. Nine states continue to face deficient rainfall conditions, according to data from the Met Office.

Monsoon has improved the reservoir levels significantly too. The country’s 150 reservoirs registered a 7 percent higher than normal storage as of August 1 compared with a 4 percent deficit the previous week.

Punjab’s reservoirs had 80 percent storage below normal.

Northern and eastern regions have been worst affected, as rainfall has been deficient in these parts. Northern states had a storage deficit of 38 percent, while the eastern regions had 12 percent deficit, and Bihar 67 percent.

The government is hoping for a revival of its agricultural sector, which recorded a 1.4 percent growth in FY24, compared to 4.7 percent in the previous year, also lower than the 3.7 percent long-term average.