CRISIL DRIP index: Inadequate rains affecting Gujarat, West Bengal more

Rainfall volume data alone, therefore, is not sufficient to assess the distribution impact

Rains across the country improved slightly in the week ended August 29 with cumulative precipitation reported at 6 per cent below the long-period average (LPA), compared to 7 per cent in the preceding week.

July and August are key months for kharif sowing, so it would be apt to assess the rainfall distribution. For most of July and August, rain continued to evade key kharif crop-growing states such as Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Bihar and West Bengal, where deficiency was 14-24 per cent.

Of these, however, Gujarat and West Bengal appear more affected because of low irrigation cover. 

Rainfall volume data alone, therefore, is