‘Monsoon slightly late, may be below normal’

SKYMET PREDICTION Landfall likely on June 4 in Kerala; east, central India at drought risk

NEW DELHI: Private weather forecaster Skymet Weather has reiterated its prediction of a belownormal monsoon this year, and given the significance of this at a time when farmers in many parts of the country are already in the grip of an agrarian crisis, all eyes are now on the India Meteorological Department or IMD which will release its own update later this month.

On Tuesday, Skymet said the monsoon will set in over Kerala on June 4 and that monsoon rains will be below normal at 93% of the Long period Average or LPA.

It added that all four regions of the country will see below normal rains, especially in June and the first half of July. Skymet Weather’s monsoon forecast may have serious implications for agriculture because pre-monsoon rainfall was 21% below the long period average of 82.5mm between March 1 and May 8, according to IMD. North-west India with a deficit of 37% and peninsular India with a deficit of 39% are the worst affected. The soil is dry in these regions, and a below normal monsoon is likely to make it even more difficult for farmers who will begin sowing of kharif (or monsoon) crops in