Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 73
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 74
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
Notice (8): Undefined variable: urlPrefix [APP/Template/Layout/printlayout.ctp, line 8]latest-news-updates/after-june-and-july-showers-a-dry-august-4682550.html"/> LATEST NEWS UPDATES | After June and July showers, a dry August | Im4change.org
Resource centre on India's rural distress
 
 

After June and July showers, a dry August

-The Indian Express

The consolation this time, though, is the surplus showers during June and July. It has resulted in the cumulative rainfall for the four-month southwest monsoon season (June-September) being only 4.3 per cent below normal till August 16.

New Delhi: The current month is turning out to be the driest August in eight years. The country as a whole has received 25.6 per cent less area-weighted rainfall during August 1-16 than the historical long-period average (normal) for this period. The last time August recorded comparable levels of rain deficiency was in 2009.

The consolation this time, though, is the surplus showers during June and July. It has resulted in the cumulative rainfall for the four-month southwest monsoon season (June-September) being only 4.3 per cent below normal till August 16.

June and July coincides with peak kharif sowing activity. The Agriculture Ministry’s data shows overall plantings this season to have been 0.7 per cent higher than last year, which, of course, saw bumper production. Acreages have gone up in most crops, barring arhar (pigeon-pea), moong (green gram), maize, jowar (sorghum) and major oilseeds (groundnut, soyabean, sesamum and sunflower).

While rains in June and July are important for farmers to take up sowing, there are no less required in August when the crop is in the vegetative growth stage. Moisture stress during this period can have a bearing on yields. The extended dry phase now being witnessed can be cause for worry. The next one week or so would be crucial. The Met Department has forecast a cyclonic formation developing over the northwest Bay of Bengal, which should hopefully lead to a revival of rainfall activity over central India.

Please click here to read more.