India Drought Odds Seen Increasing by Skymet on Monsoon
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The chances of a drought in India, the world’s second-biggest rice and sugar producer, are rising as monsoon rainfall is seen the lowest in five years, according to Skymet Weather Services.
The odds of a drought are 60 percent now, compared with 25 percent in April, Skymet’s Chief Executive Jatin Singh told reporters in New Delhi today. Monsoon, which accounts for more than 70 percent of the annual rainfall, will be 91 percent of a 41-year average of 89 centimeter (35 inches) this year, he said. That will be least since the 78 percent in 2009, according to data from Skymet, a private forecaster.