Rain Deficit

Bad air quality days continue to haunt the Indo-Gangetic Plains with the air quality Index (AQI) oscillating between 'poor' and 'severe' categories

Uttar Pradesh is now facing a 44 per cent rain deficit despite heavy showers in some parts of the state

Sixty-four districts in Uttar Pradesh have received less than normal rainfall this monsoon, with several of these staring at drought-like conditions. According to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) data, only 11 of the 75 UP districts have received normal rainfall till August 19. While government officials say rain in coming days will bridge the deficit, farmers fear it is already too late. "Our crop is getting damaged. What will rain do later," asks Bhagat Pal, a small paddy farmer of Jaunpur district of eastern UP. Paddy farmers have been particularly affected, first by the delay of rain and then by its deficit. Jaunpur is among the districts that have received least rainfall this monsoon. According to the IMD data, the district has received 74 per cent less rainfall. The district recorded only 123.2 mm of rainfall this monsoon compared with the long-period average (LPA) of 471.5 mm till August 19 and falls under the category of large deficit regions. "We had to delay the

With deficient rains across Uttar Pradesh in this monsoon, farmers are staring at difficult days ahead fearing a sharp decline in their Kharif produce

Paddy sowing slows down in the states, likely complicating the central government's plans for food stocks

However, rains are picking up in most parts and are likely to remain 'normal' at least till month-end, so there is a possibility that much of the regional shortfall will be covered soon

The southwest monsoon will reach Delhi around its usual date, June 27, and the rain deficit will be compensated for by June end, meteorologists said on Monday

Between June 1-7, India has received 14.5 mm of rain as against a normal of 23.1 mm; huge shortfall in Kerala, Puducherry; North-East gets adequate rainfall

Area sown to paddy has dipped 1.23 per cent so far in the 2021-22 kharif season due to deficit rains in some states, according to agriculture ministry data released on Friday

Rain deficiency in eastern and western Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, Assam and Meghalaya is 20-46 per cent less than normal as of July 17.