The Southwest monsoon ended with a 3% rainfall deficit, which is considered near normal, leaving a wider area under cultivation and higher reservoirs levels that will help the kharif, or summer, harvest and boost planting of crops in winter. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had initially forecast that rainfall during the June-to-September monsoon would be 6% above the long-term average. Earlier this month, the department scaled down the estimate and said the monsoon would be normal at 100%, with a variation of plus or minus 4%.
The end of monsoon season report will be released by the next week. The country received 862 mm of rainfall compared with the normal level of 887.5 mm. Normal to excess rainfall occurred in 27 of the 36 subdivisions. Most parts of Northwest, East and South India received subnormal rainfall, although farmers in Punjab and Haryana have access to canal irrigation, which helps crop survive even if rainfall is scanty.
The worst hit regions were Kerala, where rainfall was 34% below normal, and Assam & Meghalaya, where the shortfall was 30%. Weak rainfall also affected Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and parts of Karnataka.
Still, rainfall was better than in the previous two years, when the seasonal deficit was 12% and 14%, and helped increase water levels in 91of the country's major reservoirs, which are crucial for supplying drinking and irrigation water until the onset of the monsoon in June next year.
Data from the Central Water Commission showed water levels as of September 29 were 17% higher than a year ago, although they were lower than the 10-year average. The major reservoirs together held 117.2 billion cubic metres (bcm) of water compared with 96.4 bcm a year ago and the 10-year average of 121.4 bcm.
Agriculture ministry officials said a surge of rainfall in September replenished soil moisture.
The end of monsoon season report will be released by the next week. The country received 862 mm of rainfall compared with the normal level of 887.5 mm. Normal to excess rainfall occurred in 27 of the 36 subdivisions. Most parts of Northwest, East and South India received subnormal rainfall, although farmers in Punjab and Haryana have access to canal irrigation, which helps crop survive even if rainfall is scanty.
The worst hit regions were Kerala, where rainfall was 34% below normal, and Assam & Meghalaya, where the shortfall was 30%. Weak rainfall also affected Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and parts of Karnataka.
Still, rainfall was better than in the previous two years, when the seasonal deficit was 12% and 14%, and helped increase water levels in 91of the country's major reservoirs, which are crucial for supplying drinking and irrigation water until the onset of the monsoon in June next year.
Data from the Central Water Commission showed water levels as of September 29 were 17% higher than a year ago, although they were lower than the 10-year average. The major reservoirs together held 117.2 billion cubic metres (bcm) of water compared with 96.4 bcm a year ago and the 10-year average of 121.4 bcm.
Agriculture ministry officials said a surge of rainfall in September replenished soil moisture.
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