Monsoon 2022: Strong finish but crucial regional deficits

Rainfall this monsoon season in India was about 7% more than normal. But an uneven distribution of rains means several regions received deficient rainfall. Some other regions have seen normal-to-surplus overall showers during the July-September rainy season, but faced a shortfall during the crucial sowing season, which could hurt crop output. For instance, the paddy acreage is 5.5% lower than last year. According to the first advance estimate released by the government last week, the kharif season food grain output is estimated at 149.9 million tonnes, lower than last year’s output of 156 million tonnes. Shambhavi Anand reviews the situation as the southwest monsoon season draws to an end.