-The Economic Times
NEW DELHI: Private forecasters are counting on temperature changes in the Indian Ocean to strengthen the monsoon current like it did in 1997, when rainfall was normal, despite a strong El Nino. While forecasters are divided about the monsoon outlook, experts say that India has become less vulnerable to monsoon rain as the share of winter-sown crops has risen over the years, while only 40% of rural households depend on agriculture as their primary source of income.
The India Meteorological Department has forecasted weak monsoon rain this year, but private forecaster Skymet remains bullish on rains. Its forecasts in the past three years have been closer to the actual rainfall compared with the weather office.
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