Economics
Weakening El Nino Bolsters India Monsoon Rain Prospects
- El Nino seen in neutral phase during most part of monsoon
- Normal rain to boost farm output, contain food prices: Joshi
Farmers work on paddy fields near Nuagaon, Jagatsinghpur District.
Photographer: Prashanth Vishwanathan/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
The monsoon is set to bring cheers to Indian farmers this year after the first back-to-back shortfall in rainfall in three decades ravaged crops.
Showers during the four-month rainy season starting June will probably be normal as the El Nino is seen returning to neutral conditions by the middle of the year, according to Skymet Weather Services Pvt. Rainfall was 14 percent below a 50-year average last year, preceded by a 12 percent shortfall in 2014, data from the India Meteorological Department show.