Half into monsoon, a third of districts face rainfall deficit

THE Met office's claims of normal, above-normal, and even excess rainfall during the first half of this monsoon may look promising on paper, but it hardly reflects the ground reality.

- JITENDRA CHOUBEY @ New Delhi

One-third of the country's districts, including key agricultural states, are experiencing significant rainfall deficits, which may impact food production.

As the monsoon reaches its midpoint, the country has received patchy, uneven rainfall thus far. Approximately one-third (about 31%) of districts have reported deficient rainfall, particularly in important agrarian states such as Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Assam, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.