As the government forecasts a second consecutive year of above-average monsoon rainfall, the implications for India’s economy ~ and particularly its rural heartland ~ are profound. In a country where nearly 50 per cent of farmland lacks irrigation, a good monsoon is not just a meteorological event; it is a socio-economic catalyst. The monsoon’s significance lies in its sheer impact. Spanning from June to September, it delivers around 70 per cent of the nation’s annual rainfall. This water sustains crops, replenishes reservoirs, and revives the agrarian rhythm of life in vast swathes of India.

A predicted rainfall of 105 percent of the long-period average this year is a welcome continuation of the 2024 surplus, offering hope for stronger agricultural output, restrained food inflation, and a revival in rural demand. A second year of plentiful rainfall also builds much-needed confidence among farmers,........

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