India’s annual monsoon arrives two days early

Winnipeg – India’s annual monsoon arrived two days early, hitting the country’s southern coast on May 29, according to a statement from the India Meteorological Department.

The southwest monsoon typically runs from June through September and provides about 75 per cent of the yearly moisture in the country. Kharif crops grown during the rainy season include black gram (urad) and mung beans, while the chickpeas and lentils typically grown during the drier rabi season also benefit from the subsoil moisture provided by the monsoon.

The IMD has forecast average rainfall for the 2022 monsoon season, which is defined as 96 to 104 per cent of the 50-year average of 87cm of precipitation.

The early start to the monsoon was seen as a relief to farmers in the country after the excessive heat and dryness of recent months.