India, April 7 -- Monsoon rainfall is likely to be "below normal" at 94% of the long-period average (LPA), with an error margin of +/-5%, private weather forecaster Skymet Weather said on Tuesday.

India received above-normal rainfall last year, with 7.9% excess compared to the LPA. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said northwest India recorded 747.9mm of rainfall last season. That was the highest rainfall since 2001 and the sixth highest since 1901. East and northeast India recorded their second-lowest rainfall since 1901 last year.

Monsoon is the lifeblood of India's economy. According to the agriculture ministry, 51% of India's farmed area, accounting for 40% of production, is rain-fed, making the Monsoon critical.

Skymet sa...