Despite recent monsoon revival, why El Niño fears are not over yet
The article analyzes how a July monsoon revival, despite a strengthening El Niño, helped narrow the kharif sowing gap after a very dry June. However, it warns that the full impact of El Niño, particularly on rabi crops due to projected warm winters and global food prices (especially vegetable oils), is yet to manifest due to its lagged effects and continued intensification. India's substantial buffer stocks of rice, wheat, and pulses are highlighted as a mitigating factor against food inflation.
The article analyzes how a July monsoon revival, despite a strengthening El Niño, helped narrow the kharif sowing gap after a very dry June. However, it warns that the full impact of El Niño, particularly on rabi crops due to projected warm winters and global food prices (especially vegetable oils), is yet to manifest due to its lagged effects and continued intensification. India's substantial buffer stocks of rice, wheat, and pulses are highlighted as a mitigating factor against food inflation.
Exam linkage
GS Paper 3: Indian Economy (Agriculture, Food Processing, Food Security, Inflation) and Environment (Climate Change impact on agriculture).
Syllabus mapping
This topic appears in Mains
Questions on Agriculture come up regularly in GS papers. Practice writing an answer — and see exactly what earns marks.
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