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India likely to see normal monsoon in 2011: Officials
India's south-west monsoon is likely to be normal for the second straight year in 2011, weather officials said on Monday, raising hopes of higher farm output that could help the government tame high food prices. The monsoon acts as a lifeline for India's farm-dependent economy, which is also the world's leading producer and consumer of several key commodities such as sugar, grains, oilseeds and cooking oils.
Pai said a La Nina weather pattern, which causes
heavier-than-normal rains in South Asia, still prevails over 25 percent
of the country and is expected to remain active till May, just before
the start of the June-Spetember monsoon season.
Another senior official said weather models of the Indian
weather office ruled out chances of occurrence of El Nino that causes
drought conditions in the Indian sub-continent.
"Our statistical models do not forecast a bad monsoon for
2011," the government official said without wanting to be named.
India's main weather office will come out
with its first forecast on this year's monsoon season in April with
periodic reviews as the four-month season progresses.
The government in Asia's third-largest economy is struggling
to control double-digit food inflation, among the highest in the region,
and a good monsoon is seen as crucial for higher farm output needed to
cool prices.
Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh , whose Congress party faces
several important state elections this year, has said fighting
inflation is a priority and last month's federal budget has spelt out
steps to help boost farm output.
source : The Economic Times