The southwest monsoon is likely to set in over Kerala around June 4, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday, according to ANI."Southwest Monsoon is likely to set in over Kerala around 4th June," IMD Kerala said.The weather department said conditions are favourable for the further advance of the southwest monsoon into some more parts of the southwest and southeast Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep Islands, parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, as well as additional areas of the Bay of Bengal around June 4.Also Read: India trims fertiliser demand for kharif season as weak monsoon outlook triggers reassessment"Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of southwest & southeast Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep Islands, some parts of Kerala & Tamil Nadu, some more parts of southwest, westcentral, eastcentral & northeast Bay of Bengal, and remaining parts of southeast Bay of Bengal around 4th June," the IMD said.The southwest monsoon typically reaches the Andaman and Nicobar Islands around the third week of May before advancing towards the Indian mainland. The official date for the onset of the monsoon over Kerala, which marks its arrival over the mainland, is June 1.The progress of the monsoon is being closely watched this year after the IMD forecast below-normal rainfall at 90% of the Long Period Average (LPA). Concerns over the possible impact of the El Nino weather pattern, which is often associated with weaker and uneven rainfall, have heightened focus on the monsoon's advance.India receives nearly 75-80% of its annual rainfall during the four-month southwest monsoon season, making it critical for agriculture and the broader economy. The rains are especially important for the sowing of key kharif crops such as paddy, pulses and oilseeds.Also Read: A ₹3 lakh crore rain check? India’s monsoon now comes with a Hormuz fine printThe kharif season, which begins in June, accounts for more than half of India's foodgrain output, making the performance of the monsoon a key factor influencing farm production and food inflation.