New Delhi, April 14 -- At a time when the US-Iran war has driven up crude oil and fertiliser prices and raised the input costs of companies, the forecast of a below-normal monsoon in 2026 has aggravated the worries of investors.

As Mint reported, India may see one of its driest monsoons in years in 2026. Skymet has predicted rainfall at 94% of the long-period average, below the normal 96-104% range, while the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has pegged it at 92% of the 50-year average because of the El Niño effect.

Meanwhile, fertiliser prices could rise further due to the disruption in the supply of raw materials amid the US-Iran war.

A deficient monsoon and rising fertiliser costs can derail the rural growth momentum and fu...