El Niño Brings Drought to India's Monsoon

India is facing its weakest monsoon in nearly two decades, according to senior weather department sources. The country is likely to receive 15% below-average rainfall during the June-September season, which would be the lowest since 2009.

The weak monsoon could have severe consequences for crop output and rural incomes in India's fifth-largest economy. Rains provide around 70% of the country's annual rainfall, and a lack of good rains in September could dent yields of summer-sown crops such as cotton, soybean, corn, and pulses.

A senior official with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that El Nino is strengthening and will likely intensify further in September, suppressing rainfall over India. The monsoon typically begins in June and starts to retreat by September 17 from northwestern parts of the country, ending across the country by mid-October.