Rainfall in the second half of the four-month monsoon period (August and September) is expected to be normal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday.

“Quantitatively, the rainfall for the country as a whole in August-September 2013 is likely to be 96 per cent of the long period average (LPA) with an error margin of 8 per cent,” IMD said in a statement. LPA is the average of seasonal rainfall over the country as a whole from 1951 to 2000.

“In the first half of the four-month monsoon season, the country received 17 per cent excess rains,” said D.S. Pai, Head of the Long Range Forecasting Division, IMD.

Total rainfall across the country from June 1 to July 31 was 17 per cent more at 528.1 mm against the normal of 452.4 mm. The total June-July rainfall this year was the highest since 1994.

IMD expects August rainfall to be normal at 96 per cent of LPA, as forecast in June. Of the 36 meteorological sub-divisions, 17 have received excess rains, while 13 were normal. About six sub-divisions, mainly in the East and North Eastern parts of the country had witnessed deficient rainfall for the period.

“The rainfall deficit in North East is pegged at 54 per cent and is likely to continue for the season ahead,” Pai said.

Excess and timely rains this year have boosted the prospects for kharif crops, such as rice, pulses, oilseeds and cotton. Planting is almost over in two third of the area exceeding last year’s levels.

The Agriculture Ministry expects that higher planting aided by timely monsoon could help the country break previous records in foodgrain production. Last year, the kharif foodgrain output stood at an all-time high of 131.27 million tonnes.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW