The overall 45 per cent deficiency in the southwest monsoon so far has impacted kharif sowing, which is lagging by 17.64 per cent over the previous year. Sowing of rice, pulses, coarse cereals, oilseeds, sugarcane, cotton, jute and mesta is lower compared to the corresponding period last year.
An Agriculture Ministry-headed inter-ministerial group was informed on Friday that rainfall is deficient across the country. It was informed that rainfall is deficient in the country as a whole. The deficiency is 62 per cent in the east and northeast region, 40 per cent in the northwest, 38 per cent in south Peninsula and 32 per cent in central India.
Of the 36 met sub-divisions, rain has been deficient in over 14 and scanty in 13 sub-divisions. It was normal in only five sub-divisions and excess in four, according to the India Meteorological Department. The forecast is that till June 26, north-eastern States as well as coastal Karnataka will receive widespread rains, while the rest of the country will get either scattered or isolated rain.
