Reading Comprehension — quick quiz

Read the passage and answer the question that follows: India's monsoon season is crucial for agriculture, as nearly 60 percent of the country's farmland depends on monsoon rains rather than irrigation. The southwest monsoon typically arrives in Kerala by the first week of June and gradually spreads across the entire country by mid-July. Adequate monsoon rainfall ensures good crop production, stable food prices, and healthy economic growth. A deficit or delayed monsoon, however, can lead to drought conditions, crop failures, and rising inflation. Question: What does the word 'deficit' most nearly mean in the context of the passage?