With monsoon deficient by 53 per cent of the long period average in the country, kharif sowing has not picked up in the last week. It is lagging in all summer crops. The sowing period normally lasts till early August.
The India Meteorological Department said on Friday that of the 36 met sub-divisions, monsoon has been deficient over eight and scanty over 18 sub-divisions. Rainfall has been in excess over only one sub-division and normal over nine sub-divisions.
Monsoon is deficient by 74 per cent of the long period average in central India, 62 per cent in south peninsula, 49 per cent in northwest India and by 22 per cent in East and the northeast. However, the IMD sees favourable conditions for advance of monsoon in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh in the next three days.
