Rainfall Deficit

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

Expecting early sowing of winter crops in states that witnessed poor and erratic rains in the kharif season, the Centre on Thursday said it will distribute seeds minikits of pulses and oilseeds in those states. Normally, sowing of rabi (winter) crops begins from October and continues till mid-November, after harvesting of kharif (summer) crops. According to the agriculture ministry, the erratic and deficit rainfall in some states during this kharif season has necessitated the need for early sowing of rabi crops especially pulses and oilseeds. The government's focus is also to provide seed minikits of pulses and oilseeds targeting monsoon deficit regions in the states apart from the regular distribution, it said in a statement. The minikits are being provided by central agencies such as National Seeds Corporation (NSC) and NAFED and the distribution is funded by the central government through the National Food Security Mission. To promote pulses sowing, the government has allocated

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has expressed concern over the continuing dry spell in the state, which is "taking a toll" on its farming practices

Five districts in Delhi have reported deficient rainfall this monsoon so far due to poor distribution of rains, according to India Meteorological Department data

Due to absence of supportive system, the monsoon progress has been slower than expected apart from sending several areas worrying about shortfall in rainfall

This is the first time since 2010 that rainfall in Delhi breached the 1,000-mm mark during the monsoon season

Rainfall in August, which recorded 24 percent deficiency, was lowest in 19 years, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday. Two major spells of weak monsoon prevailed over the country -- from August 9-16 and August 23-27 -- when northwest, central and adjoining peninsular and west coast of India had subdued rainfall activities. During August 2021, rainfall over the country as a whole was below Long Period Average (LPA) by minus 24 percent. It is also lowest August rainfall in last 19 years, since 2002, the IMD said. The Southwest Monsoon season officially commences from June 1 and lasts till September 30. The month of June recorded 10 percent more rainfall, but both July and August clocked deficiency of seven and 24 percent respectively, according to the IMD data. The country received 24 percent less than normal rainfall in August. Of the four meteorological divisions of the IMD, the central India division received 39 percent less. The division consists of a large .

Experts say though rains have recovered the past few days, they won't wipe off the deficit and the 2021 monsoon season will end with a shortfall of 5-6% from the normal

Odisha recorded its highest rainfall deficiency this monsoon in over two decades, the MeT Centre has said, amid fears that the dry spell could trigger a drought in the state

September rains to be better but not enough to recoup seasonal deficiency, says IMD

The country received 24 per cent less than normal rainfall in August, a vast deviation from the IMD's predictions for the month, but latest forecasts say it is expected to be above normal in September

Drought possible in Gujarat and West Rajasthan, says private weather forecaster

After its vigorous revival in the first week of July that saw floods, cloudburst and landslides in several parts of the country, the Southwest Monsoon ended with a seven per cent deficit for the month

All eyes on rains in the weeks ahead till August-end to assess final impact

The variability manifested itself in a decline in monsoon rainfall over north central India starting in the 1950s, which persisted for as long as five decades before a reversal from 1999 onwards

According to the Central Water Commission, of the 91 major reservoirs in the country, 62 water bodies reported 80 per cent or below of normal storage

The official rainfall season starts from June 1 to September 30, but the overall monsoon deficiency until June 22 still remains around 39 per cent

The healthy irrigation cover in a few them - and for certain crops - has saved the blushes. On an overall basis, only the groundnut crop is under some pressure

There was a 27% rainfall deficiency in east and northeast India, followed by minus 3 and minus 1 in northwest and central India respectively

Rainfall that is nearly 1/5th lower than normal so far in August has raised deficit, concerns