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Business News›News›Economy›Agriculture›El Nino effect: Monsoon deficit hits 15%; Key pulses and oilseeds at risk

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El Nino effect: Monsoon deficit hits 15%; Key pulses and oilseeds at risk
Synopsis

India's monsoon rainfall deficit stands at fifteen percent, impacting nearly half of its districts. This shortage threatens summer-sown crops like pulses and soybeans, potentially reducing yields. Several states are implementing water rationing measures to conserve resources for winter crops. High temperatures are exacerbating the moisture deficit across key agricultural regions.

Reuters

Pune: Cumulative rainfall deficit this monsoon season is about 15% so far due to El Nino, with nearly half the districts in India reporting below-average precipitation, stoking concerns of yield contraction in key summer-sown crops and prompting some states to ration water use to minimise shrinkage in rabi (winter-sown) output.



Agricultural experts believe the rain shortage could affect output of pulses such as tur and urad and soyabean, the key oilseed crop of the kharif (summer-sown) season. Other standing crops are also at risk, should the rain deficit persist.



"The acute moisture deficit across primary rainfed belts poses an immediate threat to the Kharif balance sheet," said Deepak Pareek, founder of agri-advisory firm HnyB.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has asked the agriculture department to examine crops affected by moisture deficit.



Given this critical soil-moisture deficit, yield of vital crops such as pigeon pea (tur), black matpe (urad), and soybean could contract between 10% and 20%.



Also Read: India knows where extreme weather is coming. It doesn’t know what it will cost



"Several key pulses and oilseed-producing districts are currently grappling with severe water stress, where cumulative precipitation has plummeted to nearly 40% below the long period average (LPA)," Pareek said.

Yield at Risk

Data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) showed that 45% of all districts in the country have deficit rainfall this season. Nationally, the gap is about 15% so far.



Deficit rainfall and record high temperatures have adversely affected standing kharif crops.



According to IMD data, the minimum temperature nationally in August was the highest after 1902, the mean temperature was the second highest, and the maximum temperature the fourth highest since then.



Temperatures in September are expected to be similarly high, said IMD scientists.



"We expect the formation of a system which will give rainfall in central and south India next week. However, it will not be able to cover the current rainfall deficit," said OP Sreejeth, head, Climate Monitoring and Prediction Group, IMD.



In many agriculturally crucial states, about 30-50% of the districts have rainfall deficits.

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El Nino effect on monsoonmonsoon rainfall deficitKharif crop yield contractionimpact on pulses and oilseedsdrought in Indiamoisture deficit in agricultureIndia Meteorological Departmenttemperature effects on cropswater use reduction in Punjab Haryana Rajasthanwater rationing in agriculture

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