New Delhi: Pre-monsoon rainfall from March to May, a phenomenon vital to agriculture in several parts of the country, has recorded a deficiency of 22 per cent, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data.
The IMD recorded 75.9 millimetres of rainfall from March 1 to May 15 as against the normal rainfall of 96.8 millimetres, which comes to around minus 22 per cent.
From March 1 to April 24, the IMD recorded a deficiency of 27 per cent. The deficiency this week seems to have fallen over the last fortnight due to rains over east and northeast India. Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon has advanced into the South Andaman Sea and conditions are favourable for it to reach the North Andaman Sea and the Andaman Islands in the next 2-3 days, the IMD said.
Division-wise deficiency data
Of the four meteorological divisions of the IMD, the south peninsula, which comprises all the southern states, has recorded pre-monsoon deficiency of 46 per cent — the highest in the country. This was followed by 36 per cent in the northwest subdivision that covers all the north Indian states — it was 38 per cent from March 1 to April 24, but has dropped by 2 per cent due to rainfall across several parts.
The deficiency in the east and northeast region that covers eastern states of Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha and northeastern states was seven per cent. There was no deficiency in the central region which comprises states of Maharashtra, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
States like Odisha, whose prime livelihood depends on agriculture, ploughing is done in the pre-monsoon season. Pre-monsoon deficit will go a long way in affecting the crop output.
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