Why strong monsoon rains are not necessarily good news for Indian farmers
India, one of the world's biggest agricultural producers, experienced its heaviest monsoon rains in 25 years this year. While rain would normally cheer the agricultural heartland, the monsoon was erratic and has left many crops damaged. WHY IS THE MONSOON IMPORTANT? India is the world's biggest producer of sugar, cotton and pulses and the second-biggest producer of wheat and rice. The success of these crops is largely determined by the June-September monsoon, which delivers about 70 per cent of the country's annual rainfall. The monsoon is also critical for the wider economy. Farming makes up about 15 per cent of the $2.5 trillion economy and employs more than half of the country's 130 crore people. While crops in the ground have been damaged by the monsoon, the rains have replenished reservoirs and ground water reserves, which augurs well for India's rural economy in 2020. WHAT WENT WRONG WITH THIS MONSOON? A prolonged dry spell resulted in sign...