Monsoon eases drought concerns

June 14, 2013 09:38

Ample annual monsoon rains have covered half of India two days ahead of the usual date and more hefty downpours are expected next week, weather experts said on Thursday, easing concern over southwestern regions parched by drought.

The June to September monsoon is crucial for farm output and economic growth in India, where just over half of arable land is rain-fed. The farm sector makes up about 15 percent of the nearly $2-trillion economy that is Asia's third-biggest.

"In fact, monsoon rains have advanced slightly more than half of the landmass," said one official at the weather department, who asked not to be identified because he is not authorised to speak to the media.

Rainfall in the second week of the season ending June 12 was 35 percent above average, helping early planting of a host of summer crops, including rice, oilseeds and cotton, in many parts of the country.

The monsoon arrived on schedule on the southern Kerala coast on June 1, and then spread inland faster than usual. Between the start of the season and June 13, the rains were 28 percent above average.

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