New Delhi, June 25: India received 11 per cent less rains than normal for the June 1-23 period with the Southwest monsoon virtually remaining stationary over eastern and central parts of the country in the last one week, the Meteorological department said.
As per the Met department figures, the country received 97.4 mm rainfall for the period as against the normal levels of 109.6 mm. This was because the Southwest monsoon did not advance much during the week starting June 18 towards the breadbasket northern region and the central and the northwestern parts of the country that grow oilseeds. The rains are nearly 10 days behind its normal schedule.
However, weather scientists have said there was no need for alarm. The Southwest monsoon is expected to strengthen with the formation of a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal.
“Conditions are becoming favourable for advance of Southwest monsoon into parts of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and some parts of east Uttar Pradesh during next 3-4 days,” the weather office said.
No drought situation
Despite the truant monsoon, the government said it did not expect a drought-like situation this year and was well equipped if climatic changes hit agricultural production. “We are well equipped and we have different varieties of seeds and technology to deal with such a situation,” Minister of State for Agriculture, K V Thomas, said.
Thomas also said he had been told that southern India had got 96 per cent rainfall and central India, 75 per cent, which was good for the Kharif crops. But early data from the agriculture ministry shows that Kharif sowing has started and paddy has been sown in less area than last year.
Till June 18, paddy had been sown in 10.97 lakh hectares across India as against 11.73 lakh hectares in the same period last year. The ministry, however, justified its stand, saying, “the sowing of rice is in very early stage”.
Farmers are worried whether this year, too, the rice yield would be less. Their hopes now lie on Central Water Commission’s assurances that there is enough water in the country’s reservoirs.
-Agencies