Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<ul><li>Total rainfall in India came in at 91% of the 50-year average between June to September, according to the Indian Meteorological Department, as opposed to predictions of 97%. </li><li>This was largely due to the fact that the northeastern parts of India, which usually receive higher rainfall than the rest of the country, experienced a shortage in rainfall. </li><li>However, despite the weak <keyword id="6358301" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="monsoon">monsoon</keyword>, India’s crop production this kharif season is expected to reach a record level of 141.6 million tonnes. </li></ul>India’s rainfall this monsoon season fell short of forecasts for the second consecutive year, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). Total rains came in at 91% of the 50-year average between June to September, as opposed to predictions of 97%. This was largely due to the fact that the northeastern parts of India, which usually receive higher rainfall than the rest of the country, experienced a shortage in rainfall. Infact, 69% of the country received a normal or excessive rainfall this monsoon season, with the flood-ravaged <keyword id="28504" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kerala">Kerala</keyword> receiving 23% higher rainfall than normal. Gujarat had an uncharacteristically dry season, receiving 24% less rain than normal, while UP and Bihar had the most rain-deficient districts. It bears mentioning that the 97% forecast for this year was reaffirmed despite a dry spell in the first half of the season. A normal monsoon involves rainfall in the range of 96%-104% of the 50-year or long-term average. A drought season occurs when rainfall is 90% of the long-term average or less. A record <keyword id="6417335" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="harvest">harvest</keyword> The June-September period is particularly crucial for India’s agriculture industry as this season provides 70% of the country’s annual precipitation. However, despite the weak monsoon, India’s crop production this kharif season is expected to reach record levels. As per government forecasts, production of summer <keyword id="18620" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="crops">crops</keyword> should reach 141.6 million tonnes in 2018-19, a slight jump from last year’s record bounty of 140.7 million tonnes, owing to a 2% jump in the output of <keyword id="13726" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="rice">rice</keyword> to nearly 100 million tonnes - which bodes well for exports. This is even more significant as there has been a slight shrinkage in the total acreage occupied by kharif crops this year. The record harvest this year is largely due to the fact that farmers are prioritising crops that don’t require excessive rainfall. They’re choosing crops based on the existing moisture level in the soil, thereby making their harvest less dependent on the monsoon. According to research by the IMD, soil moisture was found to be adequate in most districts that received a rainfall of 20% less than the average. In addition, farmers are also planting crops that will fetch them better prices - for example, choosing soybeans over pulses - and factoring the monsoon less in their decisions. A double-edged sword However, despite the obvious cause for celebration, a record harvest can prove to be a drag on farmer incomes. A high level of food grain production translates into lower prices - which is great for households - but hurts farmers. If wholesale prices remain below the government’s minimum support prices, then it will have to step in and procure more grains from farmers than budgeted.

Despite a second consecutive deficient monsoon, India is poised for a record harvest

The mercury has soared all across India, because of which the water storage availability at India's 91 major reservoirs has dipped to mere 37.92 billion cubic metres, and this might come as a shock to everyone, but this is just 24% of the total storage capacity of these reservoirs. 
 In its latest bulletin, the <keyword id="6357283" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Central-Water-Commission">Central Water Commission</keyword> has noted that as on April 7, the storage status of these reservoirs was even less than the corresponding period last year. 
 
It is during the monsoon period of June to September that the reservoirs usually get their share of water; however, because of less rainfall in 2014 and 2015, they have seen heavy decline in water availability. This is also directly hampering the irrigation scene of India. 
 
As a ray of hope, the India Meteorological Department has predicted abundant rainfall this year, because of which these reservoirs are supposed to get enough water during this monsoon. 
 
Indian states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Bengal, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, UP, Uttarakhand, MP, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala are facing lesser storage than last year’s corresponding period. 
 
On the other hand, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura, only two states have reported better storage as compared to the previous year. 
 
<a href="http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDE0LzAxLzMxLzE4L2NhbGlmb3JuaWEuMGU3YjUuanBnCnAJdGh1bWIJMTQ0MHgxMDAwPgplCWpwZw/4d99367d/853/california_drought_4.jpg">Image source</a> (Image for representational purpose only)

91 Key reservoirs in India have less than a quarter of their full capacities left

<ul class="summary-list"><li>According to the National <keyword id="16422" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="hurricane">Hurricane</keyword> Center, Hurricane Iota is expected to bring "potentially catastrophic winds, a life-threatening storm surge, and extreme rainfall" to parts of Central America in the coming days. </li><li>The NHC projected the storm will reach parts of Nicaragua and Honduras on Monday night or Tuesday morning, bringing winds of up to 130 mph. </li><li>The storm comes less than two weeks after Hurricane Eta ravaged the region, destroying towns and leaving many dead or missing. </li></ul>Hurricane Iota is quickly gathering strength and expected to make landfall in Central America in the coming days, less than two weeks after Hurricane Eta ravaged the region. According to the <a href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/cyclones/">National Hurricane Center</a>, the storm is expected to bring "potentially catastrophic winds, a life-threatening storm surge, and extreme rainfall" to parts of Central America. NHC experts on Sunday said Hurricane Iota is forecast to be an "extremely dangerous category 4" storm, and is on track to make landfall on the coasts of Nicaragua and Honduras on Monday night or Tuesday morning, with winds reaching up to 130 mph. An <a href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT1+shtml/151501.shtml">NHC advisory issued Sunday morning</a> warned of a storm surge that could raise water levels by up to 15 feet above normal tide levels on the coasts, which "will be accompanied by large and destructive waves." The advisory said isolated maximum rainfall could reach as high as between 20 and 30 inches in northeast Nicaragua and northern Honduras. "This rainfall would lead to significant, life-threatening flash flooding and river flooding, along with mudslides in areas of higher terrain," the advisory states. The arrival of Hurricane Iota comes on the heels of fellow category 4 storm, Hurricane Eta, which wreaked havoc on many Central American coastal communities and <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/03/weather/hurricane-eta-tuesday/index.html">left several dead or missing</a> after it made landfall on November 3. While Eta also ravaged parts of Florida after initially making landfall in Central America, Iota is not expected to impact the US, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/13/world/americas/tropical-storm-iota.html">according to the New York Times</a>. Hurricane Iota is the 30th named storm of 2020, beating the record of 28 in 2005 and outpacing earlier forecasts for 25 major storms for the year.

Hurricane Iota is expected to make landfall in Central America, bringing 'catastrophic winds' and 'a life-threatening storm surge'

Even as Finance Minister <keyword id="42575" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Arun-Jaitley">Arun Jaitley</keyword> played down the concerns over <keyword id="1146394" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="deficient-monsoon">deficient monsoon</keyword> this year saying the forecast was misplaced and distress was far-fetched, the <keyword id="151047" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Rural-Development-Ministry">Rural Development Ministry</keyword> went on war footing to ramp up flagship rural jobs scheme to generate income for affected families. 
 
Jaitley said that the timing and spread of the June-September rainy season suggested the effect won't be as dire, adding that the distribution pattern of rain forecast was such that any impact on farm output will be limited. 
 
The Finance Minister also said that there was "abundance of foodgrain" and in any case, the forecast signalled less pain than last year. 
 
India's Meteorological Department (IMD) revised its forecast of average rainfall in the June-September monsoon to 88% from 93%, fuelling fears of a drought. 
Farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, etc are already distressed due to unseasonal rainfall. 
 
Meanwhile, the Rural Development Ministry is revamping the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) and checking de-silting of water bodies, building check dams, percolation tanks and farm ponds to brace against a possible drought and build assets for future. 
 
"We will use satellite mapping to identify areas where the work needs to be taken up. Once the regular monsoon sets in, such construction cannot be done so we have to get into action immediately," a senior rural development ministry official told Economic Times. 
As per the data for 22 states, 93,000 water-harvesting structures have been built to provide irrigation to 1.2 lakh hectares of land. 
 
"Most of the work in rural areas in permitted under (the jobs programme) and since it is an open-ended scheme with no financial limitation, it is advantageous to take up work under this scheme," the official told ET. 
 
The ministry is also going to expedite its watershed management programmes. 
 
As per Economic Times, only 40% of agriculture area receives assured irrigation in the country. 
 
Jaitley said only the North-West is forecast to get slightly inadequate rainfall. “A large part of the northwest has substantial irrigation facility", Jaitley said. 
 
Sufficient foodgrain 
 
The Food Corporation of India (FCI), in the beginning, had more than 51 million tonnes of rice and wheat in the central pool itself. 
 
"The rainfall was less last year than what is predicted now and it came even later. Even then we did not let prices rise. We have more than sufficient food stock. Taking them to the market is one of the tools the government has,” said Jaitley. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

Arun Jaitley dispels deficient monsoon fears, Rural Ministry revamps MNREGA

According to weather departments, the monsoon was below sufficiency this year and the grave consequences of low rainfall have already begun to show up. It is reported that drought like symptoms have started showing up in both rural and urban areas of the peninsular India. Maharashtra's Marathwada and western Maharashtra regions and north interior Karnataka, being the worst sufferers. 
 
While Kharif crop has already been affected, prospects of Rabi crop depend largely on rainfall in September. However, weather experts believe September rainfall will also be meagre. Authorities in Maharasthra having stored water in most dams for drinking purposes, chances are unlike that water will be diverted for irrigation purpose. 
 
Dams in the Pune region hold water up to just about half their capacity , compared with 82% at this time in 2014 and 87% in 2013. The Pune Municipal Corporation has decided to implement a 15% water cut and may restrict supply of drinking water to alternate days. 
 
Latur residents in Maharashtra are in grave distress as their plight of getting water, once in 8 or 15 days may worsen. Ujani dam, the lifeline of Solapur district, has zero live storage as against 72% at this time last year. Similarly, Jayakwadi dam in Aurangabad has just 5% live storage and the administration has made up its mind to use its dead stock, which is usually not exhausted, to meet drinking water requirements. As per the agriculture ministry, about 56% of the net cultivated area of the country is rain-fed, accounting for 44% of food production. 
Sugarcane farmers from drought-affected areas are selling cane as fodder instead of waiting for a few more months to sell it to sugar mills. They are getting Rs 2,800 to Rs 3,000 a tonne, compared to Rs 2,000 paid by most mills this year. Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Eknath Khadse has indicated that the state government may not allow sugar mills from drought-affected areas to crush sugarcane in the October September sugar year. A sugar mill of 2,500 tonne per day crushing capacity requires 5 lakh litres of water every day . 
 
Sugar mill owners said since cane availability will be less, very few mills will be able to do crushing next season. 
However, a venture started to artificially curate rainfall didn’t yield much result. the artificial rain fall experiment being carried out in Marathwada region has not given much rainfall, even after about 80 flying hours. "There are not enough rain-bearing clouds coming to this region," said a senior official. 
 
In some districts of neighbouring Karnataka, rains were as much as 40% less than what is considered normal. Of the total 171 talukas in Karnataka, the state government has declared drought in 135, almost four times more than last year. 
 
Karnataka has asked for more than Rs 3,000 crore of central assistance, state officials said. According to officials of the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, north interior Karnataka has most of the drought-affected areas.

Drought-like situation in Maharasthra and Karnataka. Blame it on low rainfall

For seven years, researchers used NASA's GRACE satellites, which measure Earth's gravitational pull from space, to monitor rising and falling <keyword id="15300" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Water">water</keyword> levels in the <keyword id="30350" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Middle-East">Middle East</keyword> along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This in turn, provided a picture of water storage changes over time. 
A compilation of satellite images reveals that Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Iran lost 117 million acre feet of stored freshwater between 2003 and 2010, which is <a href="http://news.uci.edu/press-releases/middle-east-river-basin-has-lost-dead-sea-sized-quantity-of-water/">roughly equal to the amount of water in the Dead Sea</a>, according to a press release. 
In the visualization below, red represents drier conditions and blue represents wetter conditions. 

There are several reasons for the recent water loss. A drought in 2007, which reduced the amount of surface water available, placed more pressure on groundwater pumping to irrigate farm land. 
Lack of rainfall, and more frequent dry spells, is a response to climate change. On top of all this, the region's demand for freshwater is increasing. 
The Tigris and Euphrates river basins have the second fastest rate of groundwater storage loss on Earth, after India, Jay Famiglietti, the study's principle investigator and a hydrologist and professor at UC Irvine, said in a news statement. 
"The Middle East just does not have that much water to begin with, and it's a part of the world that will be experiencing less rainfall with climate change," said Famiglietti. "Those dry areas are getting dryer. The Middle East and the world's other arid regions need to manage available water resources as best they can."

You Searched For "less rainfall" and got 6 results

Despite a second consecutive deficient monsoon, India is poised for a record harvest

Dilsher Dhillon

91 Key reservoirs in India have less than a quarter of their full capacities left

BI India Bureau

Hurricane Iota is expected to make landfall in Central America, bringing 'catastrophic winds' and 'a life-threatening storm surge'

Bethany Biron

Arun Jaitley dispels deficient monsoon fears, Rural Ministry revamps MNREGA

BI India Bureau

Drought-like situation in Maharasthra and Karnataka. Blame it on low rainfall

BI India Bureau

Satellites Show Alarming Water Loss In The Middle East

Dina Spector

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides