AURANGABAD: Spells of light to medium showers in Aurangabad and some other parts of Marathwada in the 24-hour period till Saturday morning have further reduced the August monsoon deficit in the region to 27%.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has made a forecast of moderate rainfall activity over Aurangabad and parts of Marathwada for the next 24-hours.
Marathwada, comprising eight districts, has received average 561 mm rainfall so far since June 1, which accounts for 124% of the normal showers.
The extended dry spell observed till the second half of August, however, showed rainfall deficiency in the third month of monsoon in six of the eight districts.. Barring Aurangabad (139%) and Jalna (119%) districts that show surplus showers in August, the remaining six districts namely Beed (66%), Latur (46%), Osmanabad (46%), Nanded (61%), Parbhani (57%), and Hingoli (76%) show rainfall deficiency in August.
The ongoing revival of monsoon in the region is proving to be conducive for kharif crops. K K Dakhore, agricultural meteorologist with Parbhani-based Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agricultural University, said all kharif crops are vulnerable to attack from pests and diseases during the current stage due to overall set of weather conditions. “Soyabean, cotton and pigeon pea need spraying of pesticides and insecticides, which is possible only after rain takes intermittent breaks,” he said.
