Indian Sugar futures fell on subdued demand in the local market though an increase in import duty on Sugar is seen aiding sentiment in the next session. Hike in import duty will make overseas purchases nearly unfeasible for refiners in the world's biggest consumer, hitting shipments from suppliers such asBrazil,Thailand and Pakistan.
Indian Chickpea or chana futures ended weak due to sluggish local demand, though worries about late rains may support prices at lower levels. Compared with the minimum support price (MSP), Chana is currently ruling Rs 400 per quintal lower and any major fall in its price appears unlikely, said the trader from Indore market.
Indian Soy oil futures were lower due to bearish cues from Malaysian palm oil futures, though Soybean futures ended higher on concerns over delayed Monsoon. Soybean futures are likely to trade steady to weak as subdued export demand for Soymeal may weigh on sentiment, though concerns over delayed Monsoon could aid prices at lower levels.
According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, Nowgong in Madhya Pradesh was the hottest place in India on Thursday with a maximum of 41.6°C. Banda followed in Uttar Pradesh, where many places are observing heat wave conditions.
| Places | State | Maximum temperature on Thursday | Forecast trend for next 24 hours |
| Nowgong | Madhya Pradesh | 41.6°C | Rise |
| Banda | Uttar Pradesh | 41.6°C | Same |
| Allahabad | Uttar Pradesh | 41.5°C | Same |
| kanpur | Uttar Pradesh | 41.4°C | Same |
| Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh | 41.2°C | Drop |
| Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh | 41.1°C | Drop |
| Khajuraho | Madhya Pradesh | 41.0°C | Rise |
| Hardoi | Uttar Pradesh | 40.8°C | Same |
| Hanamkonda | Uttar Pradesh | 40.5°C | Same |
picture courtesy- panoramio
Weather alert for Madhya Pradesh issued at 18.19 hrs
Few spells of rain and thundershowers are likely at few places in Balaghat, Bhopal, Chhindwara, Harda, Hoshangabad, Narsinghpur, Seoni and Shahpur districts with strong average winds of 40 kmph gusting at 60 kmph during the next 2 to 5 hours.
Weather alert for Andhra Pradesh issued at 18.15 hrs
In the next 2 to 5 hours, short spells of rain and thundershowers are likely at few places in Adilabad, Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda, Nizamabad and Rangareddy districts of Andhra Pradesh. Rain will be accompanied by strong winds of 50 kmph gusting at 70 kmph.
Weather alert for Maharashtra issued at 18.09 hrs
Light rain and thundershowers are likely at few places in Akola, Amravati, Bhandara, Gondia, Nagpur, Wardha, Washim and Yavatmal districts with strong average winds of 50 kmph gusting at 70 kmph during the next 2 to 6 hours.
Weather alert for Bihar issued at 18.06 hrs
Short spells of rain and thundershowers are likely at some places in Banka, Bhagalpur, Bhojpur, Jehanabad, Lakhisarai, Munger and Patna districts of Bihar with strong average winds of 40 kmph gusting at 60 kmph during the next 2 to 6 hours.
Weather alert for Rajasthan issued at 18.01 hrs
Short spells of rain and thundershowers are likely at some places in Alwar, Churu, Dausa, Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, Nagaur and Sikar districts with strong average winds of 40 kmph gusting at 70 kmph during the next 2 to 4 hours.
Farmers waiting for Monsoon rain should start preparing for plantation and sowing crops as rain is expected to pick up in East and Central India next week. According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, bands of rain and clouds are expected to arrive from the Bay of Bengal later next week. These rain would follow a trough of low which is expected to form and remain extended at least for three days from the Bay of Bengal to northwest plains.
The beneficiaries of these rain would be farmers of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and they should be prepared to make most out of these rains.
Amid grim outlook of Monsoon due to El-Nino threat, sowing of main summer crops such as rice, corn, soybean, sugar cane and cotton have already started in many areas, but are behind schedule. According to media reports till last week, rice had been sown/transplanted in 7.59 lakh hectare, pulses in 2.60 lakh hectare, oilseeds in 1.23 lakh hectare and coarse cereals in 12.29 lakh hectare. Experts believe that sowing can accelerate by mid-July erasing the current delay of 10 to 15 days.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reviewed the latest status of the monsoon at a high level meeting, attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh and Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan. Government weather officials assured in the meeting that rain is likely to improve in the crucial months July and August, when planting takes place.
However, the government in an attempt to contain market speculation over food prices has taken measures to improve supply-side sentiment, including introducing minimum export prices for basic food items such as onions and potatoes since mid-June. The government has also decided to sell 5 million tonnes of rice in domestic markets from its stocks as part of measures to curb inflation, said a report published by Reuters.
Photograph by Keyan20
After observing some rain on Wednesday and Thursday, weekend in Delhi is likely to be more hot and humid amid chances of patchy rain in some parts of the city. According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, the weather in Delhi is likely to be uncomfortable due to gradual rise in day temperatures and available moisture in the atmosphere. Going by the forecast, moist winds from the Arabian Sea are prevailing in the region which may build up some clouds to give patchy rains in parts of the city.
Weathermen at Skymet explain that in spite of moist winds prevailing, rain in Delhi will remain subdued for the next few days as these winds are becoming dry - due to the distance- till they reach the capital from the Arabian Sea.
Delhi recorded a maximum of 38°C on Thursday, while the minimum on Friday was recorded at 28.8°C. The day temperatures are likely to settle in the early forties, while night temperatures would settle in the lower thirties for the next two days.
Delhi likely to miss Monsoon onset date
The Schedule for arrival of the Southwest Monsoon in Delhi is 29th June but going by the ongoing weather scenario, the city is likely to miss the due date. A long term forecast does suggest good amounts of rain during the later part of next week. Weathermen at Skymet say that Delhi is yet to witness easterly winds from the Bay of Bengal due to lack of weather system.
They say that next week, possibility of reaching these winds up to Delhi will increase due to formation of a trough of low that would extend right from Delhi to the Bay of Bengal across, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. So arrival of Monsoon in Delhi could be announced by then after observing rain.
