Monsoon revival seen next week

NEW DELHI: Monsoon rains, crucial for farm output in the world's leading consumer of sugar, grains and cooking oils, have been weakened by a cyclone but are likely to regain momentum next week, weather officials said on Friday.

"Cyclone Phet has eaten up moisture," said a senior weather official who did not want to be identified.

The June-September monsoon rains had hit the southern Kerala state on Monday, a day ahead of schedule, and brightened output prospects for summer-sown crops. But cyclone Phet near the Oman coast in the Arabian sea has hindered their advance to the north of the country.

"Monsoon is still in weak phase," said B.P. Yadav, spokesman of the India Meteorological Department. They said the cyclone was expected to fizzle out by early next week, enabling further advance of the monsoon.

For the week ended on June 2, the monsoon rains were at 16.7 millimetres, down 11 per cent from the normal weekly rainfall of 18.8 millimetres.