But as agriculture shrinks as a proportion of GDP it made up 30% in 1990 the impact of poor monsoons is reduced.
Food prices may rise because of a poor monsoon.
Overall, India is likely to suffer the most because El Nino increases the risk of a poor monsoon season by two to three times – potentially depriving the country of rains that are crucial to its crops and livelihoods.
Experts say the impact of the poor monsoon rains has been compounded by mismanagement.
For many development workers, the question needs answering, because the collapse of India's rural economy – if it continues – will bring about a catastrophe that will affect people far beyond India's borders: even rumours of a poor monsoon or bad harvest in India tends to send food prices on the world commodity markets soaring, as they did again this spring.
The government, meanwhile, has said it has enough food stockpiled from two years of healthy harvests to prevent high inflation.In this section Railing against the wrong enemy The political storm A glint of sunshine It never rains Different approaches Crime and punishment Call a cab Reprints Related items Monsoon bluesJul 22nd 2009For farmers, the effects of a poor monsoon are painfully clear.
Agriculture was at one time wholly dependent upon the vagaries of the monsoon; a poor monsoon always meant poor harvests and the threat of famine.
Their list of woes begins with last summer's poor monsoon, which has depressed agricultural growth this year.
Two-thirds of the population relies on agriculture for a livelihood, so there arent any safeguards for farmers against a poor monsoon that can ruin a years worth of crops.
There was a poor monsoon, hurting farmers.
