{
  "id": 4652866,
  "title": "Below-normal September rains raise crop, inflation risks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/below-normal-september-rains-raise-crop-inflation-risks",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-31T13:57:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Live Mint",
    "slug": "live-mint",
    "url": "https://www.livemint.com/news/india-monsoon-rains-imd-crop-food-inflation-risks-farm-income-11788181108214.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "India's southwest monsoon, which supplies over 70% of the country's annual rainfall, entered its final phase in September with forecasts of below-normal rainfall, raising concerns over kharif crop yields, food inflation, and rural demand. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted that India would receive less than 91% of its long-period average (LPA) rainfall in September, based on the 1971-2020 climatological record. Many regions, including parts of the northwest, northeast, east, east-central, and southeast peninsular India, are expected to receive rainfall below normal, while others may experience normal or above-normal precipitation.\n\nJune saw rainfall 35.4% below normal, July was 1% above normal, and August was 16.3% below normal. The country received 213.3 mm of rainfall in August, 16.6 mm below the normal of 254.9 mm. Cumulative rainfall from June to August stood at 603.7 mm, 13.8% below normal. Strong El Niño conditions, with sea surface temperature anomalies above normal, are expected to persist into September, potentially intensifying further.\n\nExperts warn that another weak monsoon could negatively impact kharif crops, vegetables, farm incomes, rural demand, and food prices. Weak rainfall could delay rabi crop preparations and increase food inflation, particularly for vegetables and edible oils. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) noted that a below-normal monsoon amid El Niño conditions poses risks to agriculture and rural demand. A September moisture deficit could reduce yields, impacting prices and affecting the sowing prospects for the Rabi season.",
  "summary": "Another spell of weak rainfall could hit kharif crops and vegetables, hurting farm incomes, rural demand and food prices, experts said",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}