‘Monsoon likely to extend, threatening ripe summer crops’

Prolonged southwest monsoon in India may damage summer crops, fuel food inflation, but aid winter crop planting.

Above-normal rainfall due to delayed withdrawal of the monsoon could damage India’s summer-sown crops like rice, cotton, soybean, corn, and pulses that are harvested from mid-September.

The southwest monsoon is likely to be prolonged into late September this year due to a mid-month low-pressure system, two senior India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials told Reuters.

Above-normal rainfall due to delayed withdrawal of the monsoon could damage India’s summer-sown crops like rice, cotton, soybean, corn, and pulses that are harvested from mid-September.

Crop damage could fuel food inflation, but the rains may raise soil moisture, aiding the planting of winter-sown crops like wheat, rapeseed and chickpea.

“There is an increased probability of a low-pressure system developing in the third week of September, which could delay the withdrawal of the monsoon,” said an IMD officer asking not to be named.

Produce loss due to the rains could lead New Delhi to extend export curbs.

The monsoon generally begins in June and starts to retreat by September 17 from north-western parts of the country, ending across the country by mid-October.