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Rainfall 19 pc above normal

G. Chandra Shekhar

MUMBAI, July 16

THE weather gods are smiling on the country as the southwest monsoon continues to progress satisfactorily. As of July 11, the all-India area weighted rainfall was 19 per cent above normal.

Twenty-eight out of the 35 meteorological sub-divisions experienced excess to normal rainfall during the period June 1 to July 11, according to the India Meteorological Department.

The deficit regions include north interior Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, and Marathwada in Maharashtra. Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh has been the worst-hit with a 64 per cent deficit in precipitation.

Actual rainfall in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gangetic West Bengal has been above normal. Weather in all these States is critical for the production of major kharif agricultural crops that include paddy, coarse cereals, cotton, groundnut and soyabean.

Coming after two years of erratic monsoon and drought conditions, the widespread rains have not only alleviated drinking water shortages, but also boosted agricultural operations, especially in the western and central parts of the country. Reports from G ujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh indicate a robust optimism about crop size.