Marathwada is a drought-hit area of Maharashtra, and farmer suicides in the region, comprising eight districts, have been rising. A slowing monsoon in parts of the country may affect the sowing of rain-fed kharif crops. The monsoon has advanced into various parts of the Bay of Bengal, north-eastern states and some parts of sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim. “After four to five days, monsoon will set over Maharashtra and then farmers can begin sowing of seeds for crops such as soyabean, cotton, pulses and groundnut,” said Chattopadhyay. IMD’s Chattopadhyay explained that the southwest monsoon has two branches: the Bay of Bengal branch and the Arabian branch.

Source: Mint June 14, 2016 10:24 UTC