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Summary of monsoon's progress and impact:
--Monsoon that is subdued may review from Saturday
--Monsoon subdued over Kerala and Karnataka
--Largely dry weather conditions seen over Kerala, Karnataka
--Cyclonic storm Phet may intensify into severe cyclonic storm
--Likely to move towards Pakistan and Gujarat in next 48 hours
--Widespread rains in Gujarat and Rajasthan
--Dry weather likely in next 24 hours across much of India
By Shiva Lingam
NEW DELHI, JUN 2 (TickerNews Service): The southwest monsoon, which arrived in Kerala Monday, may revive from Saturday, agriculture ministry secretary P.K. Basu said Wednesday.
Monsoon has been subdued over Kerala and Karnataka because of cyclonic storm Phet over the Arabian Sea.
But it made progress into northeastern states, parts of West Bengal and Sikkim, India Meteorological Department said today.
The absence of monsoon and pre-monsoon rains in the south central India may delay sowing of paddy, groundnut and soybean crops in Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
However, Gujarat received good rainfall because of the cyclonic storm. Rajasthan is also likely to get good rains.
The Indian sky over most of western, eastern and northern India is clear of clouds, pointing to dry weather conditions.
Progress of monsoon and sowing across India:
GROUNDNUT
--Heavy rains in groundnut-growing Saurashtra
--Groundnut farmers usually starts seed sowing work from mid-June
--Groundnut grown in Gujarat, Karnataka, Punjab and Tamil Nadu
COTTON
--Cotton sowing starts in Punjab, Haryana due to good irrigation facility.
--Cotton grown in Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
SOYBEAN
--Regional meteorological department says pre-monsoon showers by June 3-4
--Farm preparations to gain pace once the state get first showers
--Farmers have no plan to switch to other crops
--Soybean farmers buying seeds and other farm inputs ahead of sowing
--Farmers to start preparing land for cultivation after first showers
--Soybean dependent on monsoon, as it is grown in non-irrigated farmland
--Soybean mainly grown in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.
RICE
--Paddy transplantation awaits monsoon rains in south India
--Major rice states Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Orissa
--Other major rice states West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh Punjab and Haryana.
COTTON
--Cotton sowing to start in Gujarat from mid-June, later in Karnataka,
Andhra Pradesh
--Sowing starts in Punjab and Haryana because of irrigation facilities
--Cotton grown in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan states
--Other major cotton states are Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
PLANTATION CROP
--Isolated showers in plantation and spices districts of Kerala
--Cardamom, pepper and tea-growing areas have not received monsoon rains
--Absence of monsoon rains has not impacted crop
--Karnataka, the country's leading coffee grower
--Kerala leads in rubber and spices such as pepper and cardamom.
CHILLI
--Chilli farmers buy seeds and other farm inputs
--Chilli sowing yet to commence in Andhra Pradesh
--Recent cyclonic rains helped farmers to prepare cultivable land
--Andhra Pradesh leading chilli producer.
TURMERIC
--Sowing operations to speed up once rains lashes the region
--Pre-monsoon showers in Andhra Pradesh
--Sowing of turmeric crop has already commenced in Andhra Pradesh
--Andhra Pradesh leading turmeric producer
GUAR
--Guar areas in west Rajasthan may get rains due to storm
--Rains may help farmers to preparing land for farming
--Proper sowing may not start until end-June
--Rajasthan leading guar producer.
The southwest monsoon plays a crucial role in the Indian economy, as nearly 60% of Indian farmland is without irrigation facilities. Therefore, the agriculture economy is dependent on the monsoon rain.
Importantly, although agriculture accounts for roughly 17% of the GDP, it provides livelihood to around 60% of the country's population.
IMD BACKGROUNDER:
--IMD 2010 forecast: Monsoon likely to be normal
--IMD 2010 forecast: Monsoon likely to be 98% of the long period average
--IMD 2010 forecast: Possibility of error plus minus 5% of forecast
--IMD 2009 forecast: Near normal monsoon (long-range forecast)
--IMD 2009 forecast: Monsoon likely to be 96% of the long period average
--IMD 2009 forecast: Possibility of error plus minus 5% of forecast
--2009 Actual monsoon performance: Below normal, drought in parts of India
--2009 monsoon impact: Fall in rice, oilseeds, lentils and sugarcane output
--IMD gives out two-stage forecast for southwest monsoon rainfall
--First long-range forecast issued in April and update in June
The following details yearly production, in million tonnes, of major crops that are largely sown in the monsoon season (includes both summer and winter output). Cotton output is given in million bales. Figures in brackets details crop acreage in million hectares, (Source: Government publications):
Season 2009-10@ 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06 2004-05
Rice 89.31 99.18 96.69 93.35 91.79 83.13
Coarse cereals# 33.13 40.03 40.76 33.92 34.06 33.46
Groundnut 5.38 7.17 9.18 4.86 7.99 6.77
Castorseed 1.00 1.17 1.05 0.76 0.99 0.79
Sesame 0.61 0.64 0.76 0.62 0.64 0.67
Soybean 10.54 9.91 10.97 8.85 8.27 6.88
Cotton* 22.83 22.28 25.88 22.63 18.50 16.43
Sugarcane 274.66 285.03 348.19 355.52 281.17 237.09
@ Provisional
# Coarse cereals comprise jowar, bajra, maize, ragi, small millets and barley
* (1 bale = 170kg)
(End)
03 June, 2010 by admin