El Nino effect: Monsoon deficit hits 15%

This monsoon season in India has seen a 15% rainfall deficit due to El Nino, with half of the country's districts recording below-average precipitation. Agricultural experts warn that this moisture shortage could significantly impact key summer-sown crops like pulses and soybeans. With nearly 45% of districts experiencing rain deficits, the threat extends to standing crops, which are at risk if the deficit persists.

The deficit is most acute in primary rainfed areas, posing an immediate threat to the Kharif crop balance sheet. Even on an optimistic outlook, overall grain production in India could drop by around 8% compared to the previous year, potentially straining domestic food supply and driving up food prices. States like Karnataka have declared drought in over 100 districts, while Maharashtra has requested the agriculture department to assess crops suffering from moisture stress.

North Indian states like Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan have been asked to reduce water usage due to low reservoir levels, and they are urged to advise farmers to plant low water requirement crops in the upcoming rabi season.