New Delhi, May 25 -- Having hit the Kerala coast on Saturday, 8 days before the normal date of 1 June, the southwest monsoon that is crucial for the kharif crop and the agrarian economy, has further advanced into Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and north eastern states such as Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland on Sunday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

This is the earliest date of the monsoon onset in Kerala since 2009, when it started on 23 May. Last year, the monsoon reached Kerala on 30 May.

The southwest monsoon delivers nearly 70% of the annual rainfall and plays a pivotal role in kharif sowing, as 51% of the net sowing area is dependent upon rains. The early onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala has been attri...