IMD predicts normal and well distributed monsoon, raising hopes for farming

The IMD's prediction comes days after private weather forecaster Skymet projected less than normal rains this season

The country will experience near normal monsoon in the June-September period this year, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast on Monday.

This, coupled with the prediction that rain during the monsoon season would be well distributed throughout the country, raised hopes for high production during the Kharif season, which could lift overall economic growth. The IMD’s prediction comes days after Skymet projected less than normal rains this season. 

In its long-range forecast for this year’s southwest monsoon rainfall, the IMD predicted a 39 per cent probability of the rains to be 96 per cent of the long period average (LPA). The rains