Rainfall has been low in many states and the monsoon doesn't have much time to make up
Millions of Indians wait for the monsoon every year. The rains from June to
September is important, even critical, to some of the most basic parts of the
economy - farming, cattle rearing - and also for providing drinking water.
But this year, just like the last, the season has disappointed. So far, the
rainfall has been 12% below the average of the last 50 years (that's the
standard used to evaluate monsoon).
The number masks deep distress in several regions. Marathwada, for example, has
received only half of the rainfall it normally receives. In north Karnataka and
central Maharashtra, the shortfall is 40% and 35% in the fertile
Punjab-Haryana-Uttar Pradesh belt.
In all, 15 of the country's 36 weather zones have received 20% less rain than
normal - that's the biggest shortfall in at least half a decade.
Why is the monsoon important?
>> We get about three-fourths of our total rainfall in these four months
>> Two-thirds of the country's fields are watered only by rain. So poor rains mean
less food
>> Nearly half our rice and cotton is watered by rain, according to the
International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). Two-thirds of
India's cattle depend on fodder grown on such land
>> Half of India's population make their living off agriculture. Many of them earn
wages working on others' farms
>> Several industries, including automobiles, FMCG, bank on rural demand which is dependent on agricultural income
>> Record-low rains in several regions such as Marathwada present a humanitarian
crisis - lakhs spend the season without a regular supply of drinking water.
The numbers
Nearly half of India's districts received deficient or scanty rainfall from June
until 26 August, according to the Indian Meteorological Department. That's the
time when the country gets most of the monsoon rainfall.
In August itself, rainfall was 25% below normal. And the deficiency comes on the
back of a similar situation last year, especially in Marathwada, Telangana,
Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab.
July and August are also critical in the growth of summer crops such as rice,
gram, cotton and crops used as fodder for animals.
"The impact of this on agriculture will be significant as crops are entering
vegetative phase when they need substantial rainfall," said Sonu Agrawal,
founder and managing director of climate management company Weather Risk.
About 65% of India's cultivated land is not irrigated. Even in areas with
irrigation, many depend on storage reservoirs, which are again rain-fed.
As of 27 August, 91 important reservoirs were only 58% full - lower than last
year as well as the the average for the last ten years. Maharashtra, Telangana,
Karnataka and Kerala are among the states who have less water stored than last
year.
For more detail visit http://www.catchnews.com/environment-news/rainfall-has-been-low-in-many-states-and-the-monsoon-doesn-t-have-much-time-to-make-up-1441271126.html
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