IMD predicts 96% chance that the year's monsoon will be 'normal to excess'

On 2 June, the India Meteorological Department ruled out the possibility of a deficient monsoon, and declared that there is 96% chance that the rainfall for the year would be normal to excess.

Releasing the second long-range forecast, IMD Director General Laxman Singh Rathore said North-West India will receive 108% rainfall of the Long Period Average (LPA) while central India and southern peninsula will receive 113% of LPA.

The North-Eastern region is expected to get 94% of rainfall which is "below normal".

Anything less than 90% of the LPA is termed as a "deficient" monsoon and 90-96% of the LPA is rated as "below normal". Monsoon is considered "normal" if the LPA is between 96% and 104% of the LPA.

"Above normal" monsoon is between 104%-110% of the LPA and anything beyond 110% is considered "excess".

Agriculture, which contributes 15% to India's GDP and employs about 60% of the country's population, is heavily dependent on the monsoon as only 40% of the cultivable area is under irrigation.

Due to poor monsoon in 2015-16 crop year (July-June), 10 states have declared drought and the Centre has sanctioned about Rs 10,000 crore by way of relief to help farmers.

--PTI