Times of India: “Delayed monsoon in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh is worrying the government with prices of fruit and vegetables up 50 percent in 10 days and the water level in reservoirs nearly half of last year.
“We are keeping our fingers crossed till July 15. There appears to be a delay in the monsoon,” said a senior agriculture ministry official, not wanting to be named.
He said the ministry hoped for normal rains from Sunday.
Tomatoes, which cost Rs 25 per kg on an average in Delhi 10 days ago was selling at Rs 55 per kg on Thursday. Potatoes which cost Rs 10 per kg are now selling at Rs 20 per kg here.
The overall monsoon deficiency in the country was 23 percent till Tuesday, the meteorological department said.
The rainfall deficit, said the met department, was 40 percent in the northwest, 22 percent in the central region and 13 percent in the eastern and northeastern regions, which produce the bulk of the summer crop.
In Haryana and Punjab, the deficit was 71 percent and 73 percent respectively, it said.
Around 60 percent of the country’s agriculture depends on monsoon rains. As such, the ministry has asked states to keep alternative plans ready in case the situation does not improve.”
via Monsoon plays truant, government’s fingers crossed – The Times of India.
See also: https://chindia-alert.org/2012/07/02/india-to-launch-75m-mission-to-forecast-rains/
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