It has been almost a secular coverage across the country by the South-West monsoon this year.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), barring part of the Gangetic plains of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chandigarh and the North-East, the monsoon has been either normal or excess.

Overall, the country has received 16 per cent excess rainfall for the current season that began on June 1.

The feature of monsoon this year is that the key areas that contribute to agriculture production in the kharif season have all received ample rainfall from the monsoon.

This has also reflected in sowing figures put out by the Agriculture Ministry.

Plantings in coarse cereals and oilseeds have more than doubled as a result, while sowing in rice, cotton and pulses are up at least by a third over last year’s coverage.

Of the 36 meteorological sub-divisions in the country, 20 have received excess and 10 normal rainfall.

During the same time last year, just one region had received excess and 22 sub-divisions deficient rainfall.

The progress in the monsoon has resulted in the storage level in the 85 major reservoirs across the country double.

Currently, the live storage in the reservoirs is over 35 per cent of the 154.877 billion cubic metres.

The storage level in the South that witnessed a prolonged dry period last year has also improved compared with last year.

Meanwhile, going by the IMD forecast, the North-East which has received deficient rainfall till now could see heavy rain in the next couple of days.

Other parts of the country, including the peninsula and central parts, are likely to receive heavy rainfall.

subramani.mancombu@thehindu.co.in

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