Weather: The driest August since 1901 causes concern for Indian agriculture
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: The driest month of August since 1901 is causing worries in India’s agriculture sector, the backbone of the national economy, as many farmers have been forced to buy more seeds to sow them again as fresh monsoon rains are expected in September.
These monsoon showers are vital for India’s nearly USD 4 trillion economy as they deliver up to 70 percent of rains.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director-General Mrityunjaya Mohapatra said on Thursday that monsoon rains are likely to revive in key agricultural parts of the country early in September. The June-August seasonal rainfall remained below normal this year.
He said the south-west monsoon is expected to revive over the weekend bringing rainfall to central and southern parts of the country. September may witness normal rainfall in the range of 91-109 percent of the long-period average of 167.9 mm.
He said the development of El Nino conditions in the equatorial Pacific Ocean was the most important factor behind the deficient rainfall activity in August.
However, the Indian Ocean Dipole – the difference in sea surface temperature of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal – has started turning positive, which could counter the El Nino impact, Mohapatra said.
He said the Madden Julian Oscillation – the eastward-moving pulse of cloud — and the rainfall in the tropical region too were turning favorable and playing a role in the revival of monsoon.
