The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported last Friday (31) that the country is expected to experience below-average monsoon rainfall in August, following a July with normal rainfall. This forecast raises concerns about agricultural production, as the monsoon accounts for approximately 70% of the country's annual rainfall. According to IMD Director-General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, rainfall in August is expected to be below 94% of the historical average. The forecast also indicates that accumulated rainfall between August and September, corresponding to the second half of the monsoon season, will remain below this same level. According to the agency, moderate El Niño conditions are already present and are expected to gradually intensify, with the phenomenon potentially reaching strong intensity throughout September. This scenario worries the Indian agricultural sector, as almost half of the country's cultivated areas lack irrigation systems and depend directly on rainfall for crop development. The effects of the climate were already felt at the beginning of the season. At the end of June, the area planted with summer crops was about 25% smaller than in the same period of the previous year. Since then, however, the deficit has decreased and is currently below 5%, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.