As El Nino looms, wheat output in Australia, the world’s second-largest exporter of the grain, is also expected to take a hit from dry weather, forecasters and analysts said.
This would make it the fifth straight year of normal or above normal summer rains that spur farm and overall economic growth in Asia’s third-biggest economy.
The world's two largest robusta producing countries, Vietnam and Brazil, could suffer yield losses if a strong El Nino develops, analysts and weather experts said.
India has experienced below-average rainfall during most El Nino years, sometimes leading to severe drought that destroyed crops & forced authorities to limit the export of some food grains.
In 1st forecast since March, World Meteorological Organisation has indicated chance of EL Nino onset, likely to 'fuel higher global temperatures', is 70-80% during July-September period.
WMO said that after 3 years of La Nina weather pattern in the Pacific Ocean, there was a 60% chance that will change to El Nino, its warmer counterpart, in May-July.
Rainfall next month likely to be in the normal range over northwest & other parts. But northeast and east-central India, among others, may see below normal rain, IMD forecast says.
IMD says any effect of El Nino on monsoon will be visible only during the second half of the season, adding that it’s not necessary it will lead to a bad monsoon.
Return of El Nino may result in a weak monsoon, says private weather forecaster. IMD had said that most parts of India would experience above normal temperatures from March to May.
In the first eight months of the current fiscal year, New Delhi’s net tax intake didn’t even hit the halfway mark of what it expects to collect by March 31.
As Visakhapatnam readies a mega airport, the Andhra Pradesh government has revived its shelved Dagadarthi project, aiming to boost cargo and connectivity on the south coast.
Speaking at annual press conference, Army chief reiterated that India does not recognise 1963 Sino-Pakistan border pact under which Pakistan illegally ceded Shaksgam Valley to China.
UK, EFTA already in the bag and EU on the way, many members of RCEP except China signed up, and even restrictions on China being lifted, India has changed its mind on trade.
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