India prepares contingency plans due to weak monsoon season
Summary
India is preparing plans to deal with a weak monsoon season that has brought much less rain than usual. The weak rains could affect crops, water supplies, and the economy, as many farmers depend on the monsoon for irrigation and planting.Key Facts
- This year’s monsoon rains in India are about 43% below normal levels so far.
- Monsoon rains provide around 70% of India’s yearly rainfall and are vital for farming and water supplies.
- The monsoon arrived three days late in Kerala, a state in southwest India.
- Nearly half of Indian farmland does not have irrigation and depends on the monsoon rains.
- India’s Agriculture Minister emphasized the need to conserve water and repair water storage like reservoirs and dams.
- Climate change and an El Nino weather pattern are expected to reduce rainfall further in 2024.
- Mumbai received its first heavy rains after weeks of hot weather, easing some heat stress for its 22 million residents.
- El Nino could cause one of the driest monsoon seasons India has seen in 11 years, raising concerns about food prices and economic growth.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.