New Delhi, April 16 -- In good news for Indian farmers and the Union Government on the agricultural front and, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday predicted an above-normal rainfall for India during the coming June-September monsoon season, which quantitatively could be around 105 per cent of the long period average (LPA). This prediction is vital for India's agriculture, which supports a significant portion of the population and contributes substantially to the Gross Domestic Product of the country.

Ruling out the possibility of El Nino conditions - typically linked to reduced rainfall - during the entire season, IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra told a press conference, "India is likely to see above-normal rainfall in the...