Bhubaneswar, April 25 -- In a much-needed relief for the people of India, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) predicted an early arrival of the southwest monsoon. Typically expected by June 1, the monsoon winds were forecasted to reach the Kerala coast by May 25, weeks ahead of schedule. 

This surprising shift in the weather pattern brought a wave of optimism, especially for the agricultural sector, which had been anxiously awaiting the rains to ease the harsh effects of the prolonged heatwave.

For weeks, India had been grappling with a severe heatwave, especially in the northern, central, and eastern regions. Cities like Delhi, Jaipur, and Kolkata saw temperatures climbing past 44degC, creating a swelter...