NEW DELHI, Apr 17: Southwest monsoon is likely to be “near normal” this year with possibility of a “good distribution” of rainfall across the country, the weatherman said today, news that would bring cheer to farmers in parched areas.
Amid ceaseless reports of incidents of farmer suicides due to crop loss and indebtedness, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General K J Ramesh said the news will be good for the farming community and the overall economy. Fifty five per cent of Indian agriculture is dependent on rainfall.
El Nino is expected to occur in August-September, but it is unlikely to have any major impact on the monsoon, and the weatherman expects a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), which has a strong influence on rainfall in the country. (AGENCIES)
Follow our WhatsApp channel