Heatwave to delay kharif sowing (India)

The National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting has forecast that a fortnight-long heatwave in June, the key sowing month for the kharif crop, spells a weak monsoon phase.

But, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the let up in monsoon activity after a normal progression up to June 5-6 is �not unusual� or �abnormal,� notwithstanding the �large gap� of rainless days.

The key point to be focused on, according to IMD, is that the monsoons arrived much earlier this year than in other years. Apprehensions have been triggered off on the possible impact on the sowing season in June for the kharif crop following prediction of a heat wave by the Centre and directions to farmers to defer sowing.

However, IMD officials � who held a review meeting in the national capital on Tuesday on the issue � conclude that it is �way too early� even to talk of contingency plans for agricultural sowing in the crucial farm month of June.

�Not only is the overall rainfall in June much lower than in the July-August period of the monsoon season, but the variability is also much higher. In that sense, the rainfall in June is far less reliable than in other months.