Nagpur: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday released the updated Long Range Forecast Outlook for the 2024 Southwest Monsoon Season (June-September) in which it predicted normal monsoon this year in Vidarbha.
India’s monsoon season is crucial for the country’s agriculture and overall economy. The IMD predicted above-normal rainfall for the core monsoon zone this season, which is a significant relief for the nation facing heat waves and potential drought conditions. The monsoon rains, expected to be 106% of the long-term average of 87 cm, are vital for irrigating crops, replenishing reservoirs, and supporting the $3.5 trillion economy.
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Regions in Vidarbha come under the adjoining areas of central India and the region will likely get a normal monsoon this year. “Below normal rainfall is most likely over many areas of northern and eastern parts of Northwest India and eastern part of Central India, and over some areas over Northeast India and south-eastern part of South Peninsula,” the press note stated.
Above-normal rainfall can boost agriculture and water resources but also brings risks of flooding, transportation disruptions, public health issues, and ecosystem damage. To manage these, it is advised to reinforce infrastructure, implement early warnings provided by IMD, enhance surveillance and conservation efforts, and build suitable response systems in sectors likely to be affected, it stated.
The monsoon season, spanning from June to September, delivers almost 70% of the annual rainfall required for agriculture and water resources.
With 52% of India’s cultivated area depending on rain-fed irrigation, the forecast of above-normal rainfall is expected to boost farm output and economic growth, potentially lowering food price inflation. However, the distribution of rainfall is expected to vary across the country, with normal to above-normal rainfall predicted in central and southern peninsular regions and below-normal rainfall in the northeast.
