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India's monsoon rains are likely to gain strength over the next three to four days and could cover key rice, soybean, cotton and sugarcane producing regions in the southern, central and western states, weather officials said on Tuesday. .
The monsoon, the lifeblood of India's $3 trillion economy, provides nearly 70% of the rain needed to irrigate farms and recharge reservoirs and aquifers.
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Rains usually hit Kerala state on India's southwest coast around June 1 and cover almost half the country by mid-June.
This year, the formation of strong cyclone Biparjoy in the Arabian Sea has delayed the onset of the monsoon and restricted its progress to just a third of the country so far.
“Conditions are becoming favorable for the strengthening of the monsoon. It will progress rapidly from this weekend in central, western and northern parts of the country,” said a senior official from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Cotton, soybeans and legumes are grown mainly in the central region of the country, which is the largest importer of vegetable oils and legumes and the largest producer of cotton.
So far in June, India has received 33% less rain than normal, although in some states the deficit reaches 95%.
Source: Rajendra Jadhav | Notícias Agrícolas
