Mumbai, 26 Jun (Commoditiescontrol): The southwest monsoon, which stalled after reaching Mumbai on June 9, is poised to regain momentum within the next couple of days, according to private weather forecaster Skymet.
"Weather conditions are becoming increasingly favourable for the monsoon to advance across several key regions," Skymet reported. “Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and parts of Uttar Pradesh can expect the arrival of the monsoon within the next two days.”
This advancement is crucial for the kharif crop season, as planting largely depends on the initial showers of the southwest monsoon. Although the monsoon arrived in Kerala on May 31, a day ahead of schedule, its slow progress has delayed planting. The agriculture ministry has yet to release data on the area sown under various crops due to this delay.
The southwest monsoon is essential for India, bringing nearly 70% of the rain needed for agriculture and replenishing reservoirs and aquifers. Given that around 56% of the net cultivated area and 44% of food production depend on monsoon rainfall, its timely arrival is vital for robust crop production, stable food prices, and economic growth. Agriculture contributes approximately 14% to India's gross domestic product, highlighting the importance of a good monsoon.
As of June 24, the national rainfall deficit was 18%, with significant regional variations. East and northeast India faced a 16% deficit, while northwest India had a concerning 56% shortfall. Central India experienced a 22% deficit, whereas the southern Peninsula enjoyed a 10% surplus.
"The coming days, however, bring hope for a significant improvement," Skymet stated.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Tuesday that the southwest monsoon has advanced into parts of the north Arabian Sea, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, southwest Rajasthan, and southern West Uttar Pradesh. Recent IMD data indicates a trend of slow monsoon rainfall in June, followed by prolonged heavy rainfall in September. This shift is accompanied by rising temperatures during the monsoon months and an increase in dry days over eastern India.
Regarding heatwaves, the IMD noted no significant change in maximum temperatures in northwest and central India over the next two days, with a subsequent drop of 2-4°C expected. Maximum temperatures are likely to remain largely unchanged in other regions. On Monday, temperatures ranged from 40-43°C in Punjab, West Rajasthan, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, West Rajasthan, West Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, and 38-40°C in parts of West Uttar Pradesh and isolated pockets of Saurashtra and Kutch. Jaisalmer in Rajasthan recorded the highest maximum temperature of 45°C on Monday.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau: 09820130172)