New Delhi, April 24 (IANS) India is likely to witness below average monsoon rainfall in 2014 that will affect farm output and economic growth, the government’s weather office said Thursday.

Rainfall during the 2014 monsoon season (June to September) averaged over the country as a whole is likely to be 88 percent with a margin for error of plus or minus five percent of long period average, according to data released by the India Meteorological Department and Earth System Science Organization (ESSO).

The deficient monsoon will negatively impact farm output and economic growth. Nearly a half of India’s farmland lacks irrigation and is dependent on monsoon rain.