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.