MC Daily Monsoon Tracker: Reservoir levels stay 10% below normal as rainfall deficit widens

Rainfall deficit widens

India’s reservoir levels were 10 percent below normal, unchanged from the previous week as of July 11, as rainfall deficit widened to 2.8 percent on July 12 from 2.3 percent on the previous day, according to data released by the Indian Meteorological Department and Central Water Commission.

A dry spell over the last four days also led to Chandigarh witnessing over 50 percent rainfall deficit. The number of states facing deficit increased further to 12 on July 12.

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

Data indicates that two states have received large excess and six states excess rainfall.

Area sown under major crops was high 14 percent higher as of July 5 compared with the previous year, as rainfall situation improved across the country.

Data released on July 7, showed that paddy, pulses and oilseeds experienced over 50 percent higher acreage from similar period in the previous year. Area sown under paddy and pulses was 3.68 million hectares, whereas oilseeds covered 8.03 million hectares.

Sowing under coarse cereals was down a third during this period, whereas sugarcane was up 2.5 percent.

As on July 5, the area sown for Urad has reached 0.54 million hectares, as compared to 0.37 million hectares for corresponding period last year, the consumer affairs ministry said on July 10.

Reservoir levels were down 10 percent from normal as of July 11.

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

Data released on July 12 showed that consumer inflation increased to 5.1 percent, as food inflation galloped to 9.4 percent in June. High vegetable, pulses and cereals inflation drove food prices in the month. Economists point out that a good monsoon is necessary for food inflation to remain low. A rising inflation can also hurt consumption and consumer goods sector.

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.