Rainfall is the natural process by which the condensed water in the clouds descends back onto the earth in the form of precipitation, filling our lakes and rivers, recharging underground aquifers, and providing food for plants and animals. Precipitation levels vary widely over the world, from less than 0.1 inches per year in certain deserts to more than 900 inches per year in the tropics. It plays a vital role in recharging our freshwater supply as well as supplying water to the areas which provide many life-essential products.

India’s climate is diverse, with a wide range of meteorological conditions over a large geographic area and varying topography, making generalizations difficult. The monsoon in India is the most well-known of the world’s monsoon systems, affecting India and its surrounding water bodies predominantly. During the cooler months, it blows from the northeast, while during the hotter months, it reverses direction and blows from the southwest. During the months of June and July, this process brings a lot of rain to the entire of India.

Agriculture is one of the most major sectors of the Indian economy and activity is largely dependent upon rainfall and the Indian monsoon. Agriculture, with its associated sectors, is the largest source of livelihoods in India, 70 percent of its rural households still depend primarily on agriculture for their livelihood. The rainfall pattern in India plays a decisive role in the yearly agricultural output and food security of the country. 

Monsoon & Agriculture

• The Southwest monsoon is critical to India’s agriculture and has an impact on the lives of a fifth of the world’s population. During the month of June, July, august, or September, around 80% of the annual precipitation falls over India, providing water to crops during the peak agricultural season.
• During the southwest monsoon, monsoon-friendly crops with a high water requirement, such as sugarcane, jute, and paddy, can be easily grown. In India, agriculture is both economically and politically significant. 
• Around 14 percent of the country’s $2.7 trillion economies and 42 percent of total employment is accounted for by the industry. 
• Furthermore, the transformation of agricultural goods into food accounts for almost one-third of India’s manufacturing output, which accounts for around 18% of the country’s GDP. As a result, too much or too little rain, as well as a fluctuating monsoon pattern, can harm crops.

A better understanding of rainfall patterns and intensity can aid in obtaining better harvest and planning agricultural activities. 

• GIS Technique has full potential to analyze the different aspects of rainfall and the consequences related to it.
• Rain analysis can help farmers in determining the time of sowing and harvesting 
• The cropping system can be revolutionized using Geoinformatics by understanding the monsoon pattern
• The crop yield can be increased manifold if the amount and distribution of rainfall can be speculated and represented elaborately through maps and graphs.