Monsoon turns deficient as cumulative rainfall in July remained below 2%

Monsoon rainfall across India has turned a deficit for the first time this year, ending a strong start to the season in June, with 30% of the country seeing deficient rainfall since the start of the season.

Tuesday ended with cumulative rainfall 2% below normal since the monsoon season officially began on June 1.

Just a week ago, rainfall across the country was 16% surplus, while the number was 32% a fortnight ago.


This worrying trend comes amidst a weak monsoon phase, which has seen moisture-laden winds remain dormant since June 19. India hasn't seen a single day of adequate rainfall since then, hampering sowing of kharif crops.

Data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) showed only the southern peninsular subdivision currently recorded a marginal surplus till July 6 at +2%. The other subdivisions — northwestern, east and northeastern, and central (which also includes western states) — range from -1% to -8%.

This might lead to the re-sowing of crucial crops such as cotton, cereals, soyabean and pulses, which are already behind their plantation schedule.

These numbers are likely to decrease further as the monsoon will only pick up by the weekend, when a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal will finally generate some winds to give stimulus for further progress of the monsoon.

Delhi is likely to see its first monsoon rains of the season by July 10, IMD had said. It remains the only state not to see the arrival of the monsoon winds but saw sparse thunderstorms last week.

July is a crucial month for India’s rain-fed agricultural sector as it provides for a third of the overall monsoon rainfall during the season. The agricultural ministry expects a record harvest this year, which would help improve the economy as it continues to be battered from the after-effects of the second wave of covid that made inroads into the hinterland.