The planting of sugarcane is in progress in key producing states in India. According to Ministry of Agriculture, sugarcane has been planted on 46.09 lakh hectares in India till July 18, 2014. Delay in monsoon will affect the cane area. Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka are major sugarcane producing states in India.
A depression over Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal areas, has been causing torrential rains in the past 48 hours over Odisha and West Bengal. Due to heavy rains, Baitarani River breached its embankment at Jajpur district of Odisha. Thousands of people from Jajpur and Bhadrak district were evacuated and moved to a safer places.
Previously the system was centered over Odisha and Barpeta, resulting in heavy spells of rain over the area with Keonjhargarh receiving 151 mm of rain on 20th and Jahrsuguda receiving 103 mm of rain on 21st July.
Here's a look at the rainfall figures of last two days according to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India.
| City/ District | Rain on 20th July, 2014(Rainfall in millimeters) | City/ District | Rain on 21st July, 2014(Rainfall in millimeters) |
| Keonjhargarh | 151mm | Jharsuguda | 103mm |
| Chandabali | 85mm | Bhabanipatna | 85mm |
| Paradip | 70mm | Titlagarh | 70mm |
| Cuttack | 50mm | Keonjhargarh | 59mm |
| Bhabanipatna | 50mm | Sambalpur | 54mm |
| Sambalpur | 44mm | Dhenkanal | 31mm |
| Titlagarh | 40mm | Pulbani | 28mm |
Such heavy showers over these areas are raising the risk of flood in Odisha. Presently the system is positioned over Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh. The Monsoon system is moving in a westward direction and is likely to ease out after 24 hours.
The government authorities are taking necessary precautions, as instructed by the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik after reviewing the flood situation. Odisha Rapid action force (ODRAF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed for rescue and relief operations in the Baitarani water region. The Irrigation Department has been asked to identify vulnerable points along the river embankments and deploy mobile patrolling teams for protection. The Urban Development, Health and Rural Development Departments have also taken up responsibility for providing drinking water to the affected people.
picture courtesy- U4UVoice
Recently, Skymet carried out a study on worldwide dynamical models and the current status still points towards 60% chance of drought in India, with 40% chance of below normal rainfall. Meanwhile, lets have a look at how the weather will pan out in the country this week.
North and Northwest India
In this region, Monsoon will remain on a low key during the first half of the week. Weather activity in terms of rain will pick up from the 24th of July and isolated rain and thundershowers will be observed over Punjab, Haryana and parts of Uttar Pradesh for the next 2 days. Delhiites can also enjoy some Monsoon rain during this time.
East and Northeast
Monsoon will remain less active over Uttar Pradesh and rest of East India for the next 2 days. Thereafter, scattered rain will be witnessed in view of a fresh weather system coming up in the Bay of Bengal. Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha will receive good Monsoon rain during the weekend.
Northeast India will continue to receive isolated rain for the rest of the month. Temperatures are already in comfortable levels and will start dropping further with increase in rainfall.
Central India
Central parts will witness intense rainfall activity during the first half of the week. Odisha, south Chhattisgarh and adjoining Vidarbha are already receiving good showers.
Rainfall figures in last 24 hours-
Nashik and Pune in Madhya Maharashtra, received 14 mm and 27 mm of rain, respectively. In Chhattisgarh, Raipur received 162 mm and Pendra 85 mm of rain. Jharsuguda in Odisha received 103 mm of rain.
The rain belt will gradually travel and cover rest of Vidarbha, Marathwada, south Rajasthan, Gujarat and some parts of southern Madhya Pradesh. Temperatures in these regions will remain in low-thirties and may come down to high-twenties in few cities.
South India
Good showers likely to continue along the west coast for the entire week. Rest of South India will have very light rain, if at all, for rest of the week. Temperatures along the west coast will remain between 28⁰C to 32⁰C. Tamil Nadu will remain warmer.
In the last 4 to 5 days, rain in Mumbai has been minimal. And according to the data available with Skymet Meteorology Division in India, only 4 mm of rain was observed in the city on Monday. Sunday wasn’t any different either, with 7 mm of rain being recorded. On Saturday and Friday the rainfall figures were 3 mm and 10 mm respectively.
The last spell of heavy rain that the city observed was on July 15, when 174 mm of rain lashed the city. Since then there has been a lull for 4 to 5 days.
However, this dry spell is going to end with some good amounts of rain expected Wednesday onwards as a Monsoon system is travelling across Vidarbha and Marathwada, which will shift further and come closer to coastal parts of Maharashtra giving good rains in Mumbai.
The city has already recorded 1021 mm of rain against the average of 800 mm in the month of July and stands a strong chance of recording all time highest rain during the month as reiterated by Skymet earlier.
As more rain is in the offing, it will not be surprising if Mumbai touches the all-time highest rainfall of 1455.5, recorded in the year 1965. The city could also record the second highest rain of 1454.5 mm, recorded in July, 2005.
Farmers in western Europe are holding back on sales from this year's wheat harvest in hope prices will rebound from two year lows and defy forecasts for swelling global supply. Wheat growers sell a significant portion of their crop in forward sales before summer harvest, but sells are currently sluggish.
United States new Maize crop lost more ground, sliding to a contract low as forecasts of favorable weather during the crop's key yield-determining phase triggered more selling. Crop-friendly weather in the US Midwest is bolstering for huge corn harvest as crop undergoes its critical yield-building pollination period.
Black Pepper importers have imported 1300 tonnes of pepper from Sri Lanka in recent weeks using the South Asian Free Trade Agreement route. AtKochi, prices remained unchanged at Rs 71500 for ungarbled and Rs 74500 for garbled per quintal. Export prices were at $12800 for Europe and $13050 per tonne for the US.
According to Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), the sugarcane acreage in UP in 2014-15, would be around 9 per cent less than 2013-14. As compared to 6.5 million tonnes of sugar produced by UP sugar mills in 2013-14, it is estimated that in 2014-15, sugar production might be less than as compared to 2013-14 sugar season.
