Click to play videoNew Delhi: A week's rain has wiped out much of the monsoon deficit in North and Central India, which is good for both the standing crop as well as the November sowing.
The rain has been damaging for commuters but has brought a smile to the face of millions of farmers across the country. The monsoon deficit in the country is down from 32 per cent deficit to 23 per cent and that's without including this week's rainfall.
For the politicians too, the rains have come just before crucial state elections, including Agriculture Minsiter Sharad Pawar's Maharashtra.
"There is every possibility that the situation will change, particularly in Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh from where we are getting favourable reports," Sharad Pawar said.
The monsoon deficit has reduced in India's food bowl, but not sufficiently or in time. However, the drought is certainly far from over. Nonetheless, there is a a drastic improvement in Central India, where the deficit has more than halved.
The incessant rains have been a psychological relief for the farmers, but there is a flip side. While the rain is good for the standing crops of paddy, sugarcane, oil seeds and pulses another spell will be bad news.
Farmers say if it rains continuously, it will be bad for paddy but good for cattle fodder.
Nonetheless, the rain will restore moisture to the soil, which means November's Rabi sowing can happen on time and a better harvest may be expected.
(With inputs from Jyoti Kamal in Punjab)
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