MC Daily Monsoon Tracker: Rainfall deficit narrows further to 10.9%

Rainfall deficit narrows further

India’s rainfall deficit further narrowed to 10.9% until June 30, compared with 13.8% on the previous day, according to data released by the Indian Meteorological Department.

Four states faced a 50% surplus, compared with a 50% deficit. Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are among the four states with a rainfall surplus of over 50%. Bihar and Jharkhand faced over 50% deficit.

Chandigarh faced the highest deficit levels at 92%. (see graphic)

Data released Friday showed Kharif sowing was up 33% as of June 28 from the previous year. Pulses sowing was up 181%, whereas oilseeds witnessed an over 150% rise in acreage. Rice acreage was largely unchanged at 2.2 million hectares.

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

A deficit is computed in percentage terms if the rainfall is below the long-period average.

The reservoir level situation worsened in the week until June 27. Reservoir levels were down 16.7% from normal as of June 27, compared with 9% in the previous week.

Bihar and Andhra Pradesh have an over 50% deficit in reservoir levels.

A recent report pointed out that climate change was taking a toll on farmers, with 80% of marginal farmers saying they had suffered an extreme weather event in the past five years.

Food inflation was sticky above 8% in May and will likely stay elevated in the coming months.

Higher food inflation means that rural inflation has outstripped urban inflation for nearly a year and is likely to do so in the coming months.

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