Sources: 
India's 2024 monsoon season, forecasted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to deliver 106% of the long period average rainfall, has paradoxically resulted in significant agricultural disruption and soaring food inflation.
Despite expectations of an above normal monsoon, relentless rains have damaged crops across Maharashtra, a key agricultural hub and the country's primary onion belt. Crop damage has escalated to 34,842 hectares, up from 31,889 hectares, affecting districts such as Amravati, Jalgaon, Buldhana, and Ahilyanagar.
"The state has now reported crop damage across a total of 34,842 hectares," highlighting the severity of the impact.
These disruptions have triggered a sharp rise in food prices, pushing the Consumer Food Price Index (CPI) to a 57-month high of
10.87% in October 2024. This inflation spike reflects the strain on supply chains and the scarcity of essential vegetables like onions and tomatoes.
"In 2024, monsoon disruptions led to a spike in food inflation, pushing the Consumer Food Price Index (CPI) to a 57-month high of 10.87% in October," underscoring the economic consequences.
The IMD's forecast of 106% of average rainfall was supported by the absence of El Nino conditions, which typically weaken monsoon rains. However, the early onset and intensity of rains, the earliest since 2009, have paradoxically caused supply chain challenges and crop damage.
This situation presents a complex challenge for India, balancing the benefits of adequate rainfall against the risks of agricultural losses and inflationary pressures on food prices, which directly affect millions of consumers nationwide.
Sources: India’s 2024 monsoon disruptions, including heavy rains damaging key crops in Maharashtra, have driven food inflation to a 57-month high of 10.87% in October, despite forecasts of above-normal rainfall. Supply chain disruptions and crop losses threaten essential food prices, intensifying economic concerns nationwide.
