The much-awaited south-west monsoon today brought first showers to the Andaman and Nicobar islands, setting the stage for its early progression towards Kerala. <br/><br/>Director General of the India Meteorological Department Ajit Tyagi told the media in New Delhi that, South-west monsoon has set in over parts of south Bay of Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and most parts of Andaman Sea. He said, a depression in the Bay of Bengal is expected to pull the monsoonal flow towards the mainland and it may reach Kerala earlier than May 30. <br/><br/>Last week, IMD had issued a forecast stating that monsoon could reach Kerala by May 30. The onset of monsoon has now set the stage for the four-month rainfall season that has been eagerly awaited by the farm community who had to bear the brunt of a severe drought last year. <br/><br/>The weather office said conditions are favourable for further advance of monsoon over more parts of Bay of Bengal and remaining parts of Andaman Sea during next two days. <br/><br/>The normal monsoon forecast is expected to bring cheers to over 235 million farmers who had faced drought last year due to failed monsoon. <br/><br/>A good monsoon could help in sowing of rice, sugarcane, soyabean and corn and lead to a rebound in the agricultural output.