New Delhi, May 30: The Southwest Monsoon has hit the coast of Kerala and advanced into parts of northeast India from Thursday, said the Indian Meteorological Department. This year's Monsoon onset is two days earlier as the usual date of the onset is on June 1.

This year, Kerala experienced widespread pre-monsoon rains. In 2023, rainfall over the country as a whole during monsoon season (June-September), was 94 per cent of its long-period average. The advance of the southwest monsoon over the Indian mainland is marked by monsoon onset over Kerala and is an important indicator characterising the transition from a hot and dry season to a rainy season. Monsoon 2024 Arrives in India: IMD Declares Southwest Monsoon Onset Over Kerala, Above Normal Rainfall Likely.

As the monsoon progresses northward, relief from scorching summer temperatures is experienced over the areas that it tends to cover. These rains are crucial to the Indian agriculture economy (especially for kharif crops). India has three cropping seasons -- summer, kharif and rabi. Crops that are sown during October and November and the produce harvested from January depending on maturity are Rabi.

Crops sown during June-July and dependent on monsoon rains are harvested in October-November are kharif. Crops produced between Rabi and Kharif are Summer crops. Traditionally, the Kharif crops are heavily dependent on the normal progression of monsoon rainfall. Paddy, moong, Bajra, maize, groundnut, soya bean, and cotton are some of the major Kharif crops. Cherrapunji Rains: Video Shows High-Speed Wind, Waterlogging in Meghalaya As the Area Records Massive Rainfall in 72 Hours.

The dependency of Kharif crop output on monsoon rainfall has been on a gradual decline, according to an analysis done by India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra). Earlier this year, IMD in its first long-range forecast stated the southwest monsoon (June-September) this year is expected to be above normal (106 per cent of the long-period average).

Skymet, a private forecaster, has also forecast a normal monsoon this year. India receives over 70 per cent of its overall rainfall during this southwest monsoon period. Thus, the timely and proper occurrence of monsoon rainfall holds prominence for the Indian economy, given the livelihood of nearly 45 per cent of India's population depends on agriculture which depends on rainfall.

The IMD has been releasing its first stage forecast for southwest monsoon rainfall during April since 2003. The first stage forecasts hold importance for farmers, policymakers, and investors, who make use of this information to undertake necessary actions for the forthcoming Kharif season.