MC Daily Monsoon Tracker: Sowing 10% higher this year as monsoon stays in normal range

Sowing a tenth higher

Sowing in the country was 10 percent higher than the previous year, as rainfall deficit stayed around 2 percent across the country, according to data released by the government.

India experienced a rainfall deficit of 1.94 percent as of July 16, according to the data from the Indian Meteorological Department.

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

A dry spell also led to Chandigarh witnessing over 50 percent rainfall deficit.

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

Wholesale inflation inched up to a 16-month high of 3.4 percent in June compared with 2.6 percent in the previous month, on the back of rising food prices. Onion inflation almost doubled to over 90 percent in the month, whereas potato inflation was over 60 percent.

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 inflation in vegetables, pulses and cereals jacked up food prices. 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.

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.