India: Northeast Monsoon Fails to Support Winter Planting
The cumulative rainfall for the Northeast Monsoon 2018 reported by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), as of January 4, 2019, was 44 percent lower than the 50 year average. The deficit rains have affected reservoir storage levels, currently at 50 percent capacity. Consequently, the pace of planting for the Rabi 2018/19 season has been lower by 10 percent than the normal five year average, with significant reductions in acreage of rice and coarse cereals.
