Missed call: On India and the southwest monsoon
The article discusses the delayed onset of the southwest monsoon in Kerala and the India Meteorological Department's pessimistic forecast of a deficient year, largely due to the near-certain El Niño. It highlights the critical implications for Indian agriculture, especially rain-fed farmland, which is already facing an input crisis (energy, fertilizer) exacerbated by geopolitical events. The author emphasizes the importance of rainfall distribution over onset date and calls for urgent government preparedness, involving ministries like Agriculture, Jal Shakti, and Consumer Affairs, to implement measures such as farmer advisories for short-duration crops, disciplined water management, and readying crop insurance and relief provisioning.
Read analysis