Nearly half of the 262 districts the Centre identified as vulnerable to a weak monsoon continue to face rainfall deficiency, despite a sharp recovery in July and the first half of August, raising concerns over crops in areas with limited irrigation and high dependence on rain, an HT analysis of Agriculture Ministry and India Meteorological Department (IMD) data showed.
One district has no cumulative classification in IMD data. The finding comes as the overall monsoon picture has again begun to deteriorate after a strong recovery in July. Of the 262 districts identified for focused monitoring ahead of the kharif season, 117 are currently deficient or large deficient, while 144 have received normal or better-than-normal rainfall. As of August 19, all-India rainfall was 13% below the long-period average (LPA), down sharply from a 40% deficit at the end of June. The deficit narrowed to 13% by the end of July but has remained largely between 11% and 13% in August.
