India received 42% more rainfall than average this week, says IMD; adds it will help growth of summer-sown crops, ease drought concerns

Mumbai: India’s monsoon rains in the week ending on Wednesday were above average for the second time since the start of the season on 1 June, helping farmers accelerate the planting of summer-sown crops and easing concerns of drought. [caption id=“attachment_6878251” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. PTI[/caption] Monsoon rains are crucial for farm output and economic growth, as about 55 percent of India’s arable land is rain-fed, and agriculture forms about 15 percent of a $2.5 trillion economy that is the third biggest in Asia. India received 42 percent more rainfall than the 50-year average in the week to 31 July, data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) showed. Overall, India has received 9 percent less rain than average in the first half of June-September monsoon season.