Weather department data released on Wednesday reveals that India experienced a 9% increase in rainfall compared to the average in July.
The monsoon, vital for the nation’s economy, covered the entire country ahead of schedule, bringing substantial precipitation to central and southern states.
The Monsoon’s Critical Role in India’s Economy
The monsoon season is the lifeline of India’s nearly $3.5 trillion economy, providing approximately 70% of the country’s annual rainfall. This rainfall is crucial for irrigating farmlands and replenishing reservoirs and aquifers.
Dependence on Monsoon for Agriculture
In a country where nearly half of the farmland lacks irrigation, the monsoon season, typically spanning from June to September, is of paramount importance for agricultural productivity.
India is the world’s second-largest producer of rice, wheat, and sugar, and these crops heavily rely on the annual rains.
Regional Variations in Rainfall
While July brought a welcome surplus of rainfall across the country, regional variations were observed. Southern and central regions received nearly a third more rainfall than average, while eastern and northeastern regions experienced a 23.3% deficit.
The northwestern part of the country also faced a 14.3% shortfall in rainfall compared to the average.
July’s Rainfall Offsets June Deficit
The abundant rainfall in July successfully countered the 10.9% rainfall deficit experienced in June, resulting in a cumulative 1.8% increase in rainfall since the monsoon season began on June 1st.
Monsoon’s Impact on Agriculture and Economic Growth
Summer rains are pivotal for economic growth in India, the third-largest economy in Asia. They usually commence in the south around June 1st and gradually spread across the entire nation by July 8th, enabling farmers to sow essential crops like rice, cotton, soybeans, and sugarcane.
This year, the monsoon covered the whole country six days ahead of schedule, facilitating faster planting of summer-sown crops.