The Southwest monsoon has started over the Southeast Bay of Bengal, Nicobar Islands, and South Andaman Sea. This marks the beginning of the rainy season that is important for India’s farming industry. The monsoon was expected to arrive in Kerala on June 1 but will be delayed by a few days. The India Meteorological Department says that the monsoon is likely to advance into more parts of South Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands over the next few days.
A good monsoon is crucial for India’s economy as agriculture contributes around 15% to its GDP. It helps recharge aquifers and reservoirs and waters the farms. However, there are concerns about the impact of El Nino weather pattern on monsoon rainfall in 2023. El Nino is associated with weak monsoon winds and dry weather in India. This year’s El Nino follows three consecutive La Nina years, which typically bring good rainfall during the monsoon season.
