Monsoon rains to be below normal: Govt

Reuters Posted: Jun 24, 2009 at 1639 hrs
New Delhi India's monsoon rains, a lifeline to its trillion dollar economy, have weakened and are expected to be below normal, the government said on Wednesday.

"Rainfall is likely to be below normal," Earth Sciences Minister Prithviraj Chavan said.

The minister said the 2009 monsoon rainfall would be 93 per cent of the long-term average, lower than an earlier forecast of 96 per cent.

The annual monsoon hit the southwestern state of Kerala on May 23, a week ahead of schedule, but its progress has gradually weakened, threatening to hit the country's farm output and impact the economy.

The four-month rainy season normally kicks off around June 1 and covers the entire country by mid-July.

With only 40 per cent of farmland irrigated, most of India's small farmers rely on the monsoon to water their crops. A good season of rains also boosts rural demand for a range of products and is a key factor in determining expansion in the larger economy.