Big June-July rain deficit in 9 states, excess in 6 others

NEW DELHI: Skewed distribution of rainfall in June-July saw nine states, including Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Odisha and Bihar, facing a significant rain deficit in the range of 20-49% whereas six states, including four in the south peninsula, reported excess to large excess of cumulative rainfall during June 1-July 20.
State-wise, Jharkhand reported the highest deficit (49%) while Tamil Nadu recorded the highest surplus (83%) than their respective normal rainfall during the period.Overall, the country reported over 1% of deficit in cumulative rainfall with northwest (14% deficit) and east & northeast (12% deficit) India taking the biggest hit as on Saturday. Deficit was slightly reduced in the past 24 hours due to rains in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh caused by a depression over the Odisha coast.

Region-wise, central India has no deficit, whereas the south peninsula reported 26% more than normal rainfall so far. Barring a few days of expected good rainfall this month, the overall situation may not improve much.
Rain deficit hasn't hit kharif crop-sowing ops
There is a possibility of a weak phase of monsoon in early Aug due to delay in formation of La Nina - a climate condition associated with the periodic cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific. It is linked to good monsoon rainfall in the Indian sub-continent. Rainfall situation in the deficit zones (northwest and east & northeast) will improve with the formation of La Nina in the later part of next month or in early Sept.
The deficit, however, has so far not affected the kharif (summer sown) crop sowing operation as a large part of monsoon core zone (areas dependent on seasonal rains for farming operations) in the country received normal rainfall this month, improving even water storage in the major 150 reservoirs in many states. Data from Central Water Commission shows that the overall live storage improved from 20% of total storage capacity of these reservoirs on June 27 to 29% on July 18.
The overall acreage of kharif crops, including paddy, pulses and oilseeds, showed a higher sown area this year so far compared to the corresponding period last year. A huge deficit (11%) of rainfall in June delayed the sowing operation but farmers could increase acreage during the month with the help of groundwater and other irrigation facilities, compared to the same period last year when India reported a slightly less (9%) deficit in 2023.
Surprisingly, farmers so far this season don't appear enthused by the pitch around millets, nutri-cereals, which show decline in acreage at a time when over 60% of the kharif sowing operation is complete in the country. Their acreage as on Friday declined by 8% compared to the corresponding period last year, whereas the acreage of paddy rose by 7%.
Higher total acreage can be attributed to focus on sowing of pulses and oilseeds, which reported over 15 lakh hectares (21% increase) and 12 lakh hectares (8% increase), respectively, more sown area as on Friday. A better prospect of procurement of paddy, pulses and oilseeds encouraged farmers to opt for these crops instead of millets whose procurement could not match the popular crops despite govt's focus on it during 'International Year of Millet' last year.
Acreage data, released by the ministry on Friday, shows that the total area under coverage for all kharif crops has risen to 704 lakh hectares till July 19 against 680 lakh hectares in the same period last year.