The Monsoon rains are surplus in the first half of June. This week also, good rains are expected over East and North East India, Gujarat and Konkan. Southwest Monsoon is likely to advance over Bihar Jharkhand, East Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, East Madhya Pradesh during this week.
Paddy sowing has started in Punjab and these operations will last for about 20-25 days. Thereafter Basmati sowing will be undertaken which is expected to wrap up by July end. Paddy transplantation is a labour-intensive exercise and job needs nearly 6 lakhs migrant labourers. This year only 5-7% of the required migrants are available for this work due to COVID-19. Facing labour shortage, growers at many places have been trying to woo back the migrant labourers from Bihar & Uttar Pradesh offering freebies and extra wages. Punjab government is also betting big on the DSR (Direct seeded Rice) method for sowing amidst labour scarcity. It is anticipating nearly 25% of the total area to be sown with the DSR method. DSR saves irrigation water, labour and energy as compared to the conventional method of paddy transplantation.
To support individual farmers and Farm Producer’s Organisations (FPO), who lost business or have seen poor returns for crops due to the CORONAVIRUS lockdown, the centre will provide 50% subsidy on the transportation of fruits and vegetable if prices fall below the threshold levels. This subsidy is for storage and transportation of all fruits and vegetables where prices are below the average of 15% lower than last year prices.
Monsoon made a timely onset over Kolkata and Mumbai. Conditions are favourable for a further advancement over Konkan and South Gujarat anytime now.
North India
The first half of the week is going to be mostly dry and hot for most parts. However, isolated dust storms or thunderstorms cannot be ruled out. A fresh western disturbance is arriving on 19th of June and therefore, last 3 days 19,20,21 will observe fairly widespread dust storms and thunderstorms followed by light to moderate rains and showers over most parts. Squally winds in excess of 70 to 80 kms per hour are expected with this pre-monsoon activity.
East and North-East India
Southwest Monsoon has advanced over West Bengal, Sikkim, North-East India and a few parts of Bihar and Jharkhand. The complete State of Bihar and Jharkhand is also expected to have onset of Monsoon shortly. The entire region will experience a wet week having heavy to very heavy rain and thundershowers over Jharkhand, Bihar, Sikkim and Sub Himalayan West Bengal. Squally weather with lightning and thunderstorms are expected over North East India especially Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and Meghalaya.
Central India
Last week was extremely wet for the central parts. The first half of this week will observe heavy rainfall over Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Konkan and south Gujarat will experience extremely heavy rains in few pockets. These heavy rains will take a back seat in the second half of the week and will remain confined to Konkan and Chhattisgarh.
South Peninsula
Rains are going to reduce over most parts of peninsular India. Moderate showers are expected over coastal Karnataka and Kerala. Most parts of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, interior Karnataka, Rayalaseema, and Tamil Nadu are going to experience least weather activity.
Delhi NCR
The first half of the week will be hot and humid with isolated thunderstorms and dust storms accompanied by strong winds during the afternoon and evening. The last three days between 19 and 21st June will observe scattered rain and thundershowers, more intense on 20th and 21st.
Chennai
Partly cloudy sky with hot and humid conditions are expected throughout the week. Patchy showers at some places are likely on 16th and 17th June. Day and night temperatures will hover around 38 and 28 degrees respectively.
Footnote: The Monsoon has made an onset over Mumbai. Spells of heavy to very heavy rains are expected for Mumbai between the 15th to 18th of June.
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