MC Daily Monsoon Tracker: Rainfall deficit hits highest with 28% shortfall in precipitation

Rainfall deficit widens

India’s rainfall deficit hit its highest level of 2.58 percent in five days, as the country recorded 28 percent shortfall in precipitation as of July 17, according to data released by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

The number of states receiving deficient rainfall declined to 11, while eight states are experiencing excess and largely excess rainfall.

Eight states experienced more than 30 percent deficit in rainfall, with Chandigarh experiencing over 50 percent deficit.

In monsoon parlance, a normal is calculated using a long-period average of 30 years for a specific region.

Paddy, pulses and oilseeds experienced over 20 percent higher acreage from similar period in the previous year, as of July 12. Area sown under paddy and pulses was 11.6 million hectares and 6.2 million hectares, whereas oilseeds covered 14 million hectares.

Sowing under coarse cereals was down 7 percent during this period.

Reservoir levels remained unchanged as of July 11—down 10 percent from normal.

Andhra Pradesh and Bihar continue to face over 60 percent deficit in capacity.

The government is hoping for a revival of its agricultural sector, which recorded 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.