Labourers plant saplings in a paddy field near Siliguri in West Bengal. File PhotoThe monsoon in India may be known for its vagaries but it also acts as a great unifying bond for the country. Our country would have been a great desert if not for the monsoons, our agricultural seasons, flora, fauna and festivals revolve around the monsoons.
Monsoons play a significant role as it can make or break the economy.
Agriculture
The agricultural sector employs 60 per cent of the country's population and accounts for 15 per cent of the GDP.
A visualisation showing the onset and the retreat of the South Asian Monsoon (by Mdmadhu, from Wikimedia Commons)
The production of foodgrains rely highly on the amount and distribution of rain.
While excess monsoon as well as drought conditions are harmful, drought will be more harmful than excess rains.
Crops planted in June and July contribute to half of India's farm output. Even the crops which are sown in irrigated areas rely on the monsoon as it ensures that the reservoirs can supply enough water.
Power
Hydroelectric power constitutes about 40 per cent power supply from all sources. Higher rainfall also cuts demand for electricity and fuel which are used to pump water for irrigation.
Recently, the potential of the monsoon winds are also being harnessed to increase the generation of power.
The renewable nature of these forms of energy is an added advantage.
Economy
As the monsoon brings a steady income to farmers, it in turn pushes up the sale of consumer goods, especially for those selling products in rural India. Thus, there is a push in the economy powered by sale of automobiles, fertilizers, gold etc.
By Saravask, based on work by Planemad and Nichalp, from Wikimedia Commons
A good monsoon will mean that the prices of food products are in control, which helps the government reduce its spending. A shortage on the other hand would mean India having to import the products, leading to global inflation.
Some reports also show that there is a heightened demand for gold when farm incomes rise.
Monsoon travel
This is a fairly new concept that has developed as a result of the spurt in travel opportunities and a new generation of youngsters interested in globe-trotting. To attract tourists and encash on the scenic beauty and calmness provided by the rains, entrepreneurs are pitching monsoon tourism. Heavy rain that causes natural disasters and no rain at all can both be dampeners for the tourists.
A normal rain also allows those in the travel industry to plan things in a manner that makes it most enjoyable for the visitors.
