India is poised to receive a normal monsoon in 2024, as per the assessment of private weather forecasting agency Skymet on Tuesday. This forecast comes as a relief for the country’s agricultural sector, which faced challenges due to erratic monsoon patterns last year.
Skymet predicts that monsoon rains will reach 102 percent of the long-period average of 868.6 mm during the four-month period from June to September. The agency anticipates “sufficiently good rains” in the southern, western, and north-western regions of the country.
Nearly half of India’s agricultural land relies on rainfed cultivation, highlighting the critical importance of monsoon rainfall for crop production. A favorable monsoon also replenishes the country’s water reservoirs, crucial for subsequent irrigation.
Jatin Singh, Managing Director of Skymet, noted, “El Nino is swiftly flipping over to La Nina. And, monsoon circulation tends to be stronger during La Nina years,” emphasizing the favorable conditions for a robust monsoon season.
