According to Skymet Weather, Monsoon 2017 is likely to remain below normal at 95% (with an error margin of +/-5%) of the long period average (LPA) of 887 mm for the four-month period from June to September. This may cause trouble for farmers and decide the fate of Kharif crop that depends heavily on the performance of the southwest Monsoon.

IMD had earlier reported that the country is likely to emerge unscathed from the El Nino weather phenomenon, as it is expected to set in only during the latter part of the four-month monsoon season. Monsoon rain will arrive on the ...