New Delhi: After two consecutive deficient rainfall years, the country is expected to receive good rainfall this year.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted above normal South-West monsoon in 2016.
IMD Director General Laxman Singh Rathore said the monsoon rainfall is likely to be 106 percent of the Long Period Average. This year the rainfall will be 6 percent more than normal, which was 14 percent deficient last year, he said.
On El-Nino phenomena, which not only affected the monsoon last year but also resulted in warmer winters, Rathore said the El-Nino conditions are weakening, which is good for monsoon.
The good rainfall will be a boon for the farmers who faced two deficient rainfall years consecutively. Southwest monsoon is crucial for the sowing of Kharif crops, which contribute to major part of country’s total food grain output.
A little more than half of India’s cultivable land depends on rainfall during southwest monsoon.
It also contributes about 70 percent of the total annual soil moisture.
The food grain production, which was affected due to poor rainfall, will get a boost that may help bring down the prices of essential commodities like pulses and oil seeds. (ANI)