It's raining solutions

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India has always been dependent on the monsoon. New technologies can now help the country harness it better. The monsoon provides about 70% of India's annual rainfall. It is critical for agriculture, which supports 64% of the population. The amount of rainfall varies year by year, influenced by global weather patterns such as El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO, responsible for about 30% variability) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). This makes it complex, and prediction is hard, even though meteorologists are getting better at it, with better data and stronger tools.

Predicting is just one part of the challenge; adapting is the key. Over time, funding, policies and experimentation have resulted in sustainable solutions like drought-resistant crops, rainwater harvesting, watershed management and improved urban drainage. Now, advances in big data, sensors, drones, and artificial intelligence (AI) promise even better solutions.