Scarce rainfall in Pune not a worry

Scientists from the agricultural meteorology (Agrimet) division of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) have allayed fears of any imminent danger to the rice, cotton and oilseeds crops in East, West and Central India, even as the south west monsoon revived across the country two days ago.

This is significant considering that the south west monsoon was 25% below normal in the first week of July across the country.
Speaking to DNA on Friday in Pune, deputy director general meteorology, agrimet division, Nabansu Chattopadhyay categorically stated that there was no immediate cause for worry.

Chattopadhyay said, “It is too early to say. The monsoon has revived itself across the country and there is no immediate worry for the crops. We have not recommended any contingency plans to any of the state governments yet.”

According to Chattopadhyay, the paddy crop needed adequate water logging in June and July. He maintained that the western coast comprising Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra as also most of Eastern India where paddy was a dominant crop had received adequate rainfall. Oilseed and cotton crop did not require as much water as paddy.

Commenting on the slow start to the monsoon in Gujarat and Rajasthan, Chattopadhyay said that the recent revival in monsoon had brought rain to the two states. He also said that the sowing season in Rajasthan began only on July 15.

Meanwhile, IMD director (weather forecasting) Medha Khole attributed the revival of the monsoon to a combination of three factors — the southern movement of the trough from the Himalayan foothills, a cyclonic circulation in west central Bay of Bengal and the formation of a low pressure trough extending from the South Gujarat coast to Kerala.

According to Khole, the revival would result in the monsoon advancing to most parts of the country in the next three days.
However, Khole said that despite the revival, the rainfall would at best be “not too active, nor too weak” across the country.

“While Maharashtra and peninsular India would get subdued rainfall, most of the northern and eastern India, including central Madhya Pradesh, would get fairly widespread rainfall,” she said.

According to Khole, the next 24-36 hours would see isolated heavy rainfall in Gujarat, east Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.