El Nino chances rise, India sets up contingency plans

India’s Meteorological Department has said there is a 70% chance of an El Nino weather pattern developing during the June, July and August season, which could threaten the country’s agriculture, consumption and economy. The phenomenon, triggered by a warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean, causes drought in India and has historically led to kharif or summer-sown farm output declines of between 3% and 16%. The monsoon is considered the “lifeblood” of India’s economy, with nearly half of the country’s net-sown area lacking irrigation access.