Monsoon rains have been 14 per cent less than normal this season with almost the entire central India, considered the oilseed basket
of the country, receiving deficient rains.
Meteorologists have pinned their hope for a good spell of rains towards the month-end as they see a possibility of a low pressure area forming in the Bay of Bengal over the weekend.
Scientists have observed strengthening of monsoon flows but absence of a low pressure area in the Bay have led to the flow being appropriated by weather systems in far-off South China Sea.
Most parts of Central India were oilseeds are grown have received deficient rains to the tune of 30 per cent this season.
These regions, comprising parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, east Uttar Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal and Orissa, traditionally grow soyabean, groundnut, paddy, cotton and a variety of pulses.
Western parts of Gujarat have received 44 per cent deficient rains than normal 359.5 mm rains it get till this time of the season. East Rajasthan has received 33 per cent less rains than normal of 209.6 mm, West Madhya Pradesh -34 per cent (against normal of 305.8 mm), East MP -26 per cent (392.1 mm), East UP -36 per cent (316.8 mm), Chhattisgarh -32 per cent (454.1 mm), Orissa -31 per cent (442.4 mm), Gangetic West Bengal -35 per cent (464.7 mm) and Jharkhand -45 per cent (415.8 mm), IMD data said.
The overall deficit this season for the country as a whole has been 14 per cent, the India Meteorological Department said.
Lack of July rains appears to have affected sowing operations in various regions and one cannot see how this shortfall would be made up despite the surplus rain forecasts for August and possibly September.
