New Delhi: After a year of drought, the
eagerly-awaited seasonal monsoon rains have reached Kerala,
the weather office said Monday much to the cheer of the farming
community.
"South-west monsoon has reached Kerala and we expect it
to cover coastal Karnataka within a day," Ajit Tyagi, Director
General, India Meteorological Department said here.
However, he said due to a storm brewing in the Arabian
Sea, the progression of the monsoon is expected to be along
the western coast and interior parts of the peninsula would
get rains later.
> "There is a depression in the Arabian Sea which could
develop into a cyclone and affect the progression of monsoon
in the interior parts," Tyagi said.
As per current analysis, the depression which may develop
into a cyclone could hit parts of coastal Gujarat and Karachi,
weather scientists said.
Good rainfall this year could help increase farm produce
which in turn is expected to bring down inflation.
The onset of monsoon over Kerala sets the stage for the
four-month rainy season that powers the trillion-dollar
economy with agriculture as its prime engine of growth.
Last month, the IMD had forecast normal monsoon rains for
the season beginning June one.
The normal monsoon forecast is expected to bring cheers
to over 235 million farmers, who had faced drought last year
due to failed monsoon.
A good monsoon could help in sowing of rice, sugarcane,
soybean and corn and lead to a rebound in the agricultural
output.
PTI
