Above average rainfall likely in monsoon’s second half: IMD

New Delhi, Aug 2 (IANS) In a prediction that will being cheer to farmers, the IMD said on Tuesday that rainfall in the second half of the monsoon from August to September is likely to be above average.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) also said that the rains in July this year had been about 7 per cent above Long Period Average (LPA) - the first time in two years, third time in last ten years and only 14 times in last since 1970 that India received rainfall above LPA.

Though the first half of the monsoon is crucial since the paddy is planted toward this time but the second half is more crucial as paddy requires water till September end. The second half is also important for the arhar (pulses) crop.

The IMD however added that the rainfall in June this year had been 11 percent below the LPA, but the first half of the monsoon season (June-July) is normal.

"West Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, East Rajasthan, Vidarbha, Marathawada, Madhya Maharashtra, North interior Karnataka, Rayalaseema and Tamil Nadu have received wide spread and excess rainfall during July 2016," it said.

The weather department had predicted the June-September monsoon rains to be 106 percent of the LPA.