July 26, 2000

INDIA: RAINS DEFICIENT FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE WEEKS IN MAJOR RICE GROWING REGION

Monsoon Information: Monsoon Background Maps: Kharif Cotton Production | Kharif Peanut Production | Kharif Rice Production Previous Reports: | July 21 Report | July 15 Report | June 15 Report |

- As reported by USDA-FAS Agricultural Counselor's office in New Delhi, India in conjunction with the India Meteorological Department.

Week Seven Monsoon Report: Rice, Soybean
The previously rain-deficit states of Rajasthan and Gujarat received heavy rains during the week ending July 19, greatly ameliorating concerns about drought. Rainfall during the week was normal or above normal in West Bengal, Orissa, West Madhya Pradesh and Madhya Maharashtra, which had been experiencing poor rains during the past two to three weeks. The soybean belt of West Madhya Pradesh received around 2.5 inches of rain which is near normal, whereas the rice growing region of East Madhya Pradesh received 50 percent below normal rain. Rains were deficient for three consecutive weeks in the Plains of Bihar, a major rice growing region. Overall the majority of growing areas are doing well with few areas experiencing crop stress.

June 1 to July 19 Monsoon Review and Impacts: Peanut
The southwest monsoon officially arrived at the southern tip of India on June 1st. The monsoon's progress has been generally satisfactory in most regions though slow to arrive in some areas. Cumulative rainfall during June 1 to July 19 was normal or above normal in 28 of the 35 weather subdivisions. All India, area-weighted rainfall was estimated at 373.4 mm, 6 percent above normal . The irrigated areas will not be affected by the dry spell. The peanut area of Tamil Nadu is showing a significant deficit for the season though rainfall during the last two weeks has been within the normal range and the seasonal deficit remains. As long rainfall amounts continue to be normal from this period forward in southern India the peanut crop will not be adversely affected.

Previous Drought Areas: Rajasthan and Gujarat:
Cumulative rainfall from June 1 to July 19 in Rajasthan and Gujarat has now reached normal or above normal levels. Although the rains came a little late, there is still a window of opportunity for the planting of short-duration crops of millet and pulses in Rajasthan and peanut and cotton in Gujarat. The drought-stricken livestock population in this region also greatly benefited from increased availability of fodder and drinking water.

Monsoon Coverage Maps
The following rainfall maps ( Cotton, Peanut,Rice) depict the seasonal situation, specifically cumulative precipitation amount expressed as fraction of the 30 year normal received during the same time period.

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India Cotton and Monsoon Progress | top of page

India Peanut and Monsoon Progress | top of page

India Rice and Monsoon Progress | top of page

India Monsoon Information | top of page
Monsoon Background: The southwest monsoon typically enters the mainland over Kerala in the first week of June. It moves northward to cover the whole of India by mid-July. It starts withdrawing from mid-September. The southwest monsoon is critical to the development of Indian agricultural production. The southwest monsoon provides 80 percent of India's total precipitation and is critical to the development of its major food and commercial crops such as rice, coarse grains, pulses, peanuts, soybeans and cotton. Planting of the largely rainfed kharif (monsoon season) crops, which include rice, sorghum, corn, millet, peanut, soybean and cotton will begin after the monsoon firmly establishes itself over the major producing states and planting will continue through July and early August. Farmers in the northern rice surplus states of Punjab and Haryana, where irrigation is available, often complete rice transplanting prior to the monsoon arrival.. This season's pre-monsoon, or early season rains in central, in south and east India should provide a favorable early season planting conditions for rice, soybeans, sorghum and corn. The country's economy is to a large extent dependent on monsoon rains.

For more information, contact Jim Crutchfield with the Production Estimates and Crop Assessment Division on (202) 690-0135 or by e-mail at crutchfieldj@fas.usda.gov.