PUNE: Forecast of excess rainfall this monsoon season is heartening after back to back droughts, but it’s also likely to bring along a lot of problems for the country’s farmers, agriculture experts said.
Initial lethargy in monsoon’s progress, coupled with possibility of excess rainfall during the latter part of the season, may bring problems for crops like soyabean, pulses, jowar and maize during their harvest time, while pest and diseases incidence due to excess moisture may adversely affect cotton crop, they said.
India Meteorology Department (IMD) has already forecast delay in onset of monsoon by a week. "By June 10, the angle should start working," said LS Rathore, director general at IMD.
According to the department’s forecast, the monsoon rainfall over the country is expected to be 106% of the long period average (LPA), while as per the experimental forecast of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology it is expected to be 111% of the LPA.
IMD will issue its second stage forecast about the regional distribution of rainfall on June 1.
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