India receives below-average monsoon rains for fifth consecutive year; country received 6% less rainfall than 50-yr average till 3 July

Mumbai: India’s monsoon rains in the week ending on Wednesday were below average for the fifth time in a row, although the deficit was the lowest since the start of the season, after it revived in central and western regions. [caption id=“attachment_4494991” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters.[/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 6% less rainfall than the 50-year average in the week ended on 3 July, data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) showed. Soybean — and cotton-growing central regions received 43 percent more rainfall in the week, while the rubber — and tea-growing southern state of Kerala got 87 percent lower rainfall. India has received rain that is 28 percent less than average since the monsoon season began on 1 June.