No threat to paddy crop despite deficient rain forecast: Government

NEW DELHI: The government today tried to allay concerns on paddy crop, saying there's no threat to it despite IMD's projection of deficient rains in July and August.

The sowing is under way in most parts of country. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast 8 per cent and 10 per cent deficient rains for July and August, respectively. The country received 28 per cent more than normal rainfall last month.

"IMD has projected 8 per cent less rains for this month. If there are rains in an interval of 7-8 days, we can save our crops despite deficient rains. So, there is no threat to paddy crop," Agriculture Secretary Siraj Hussain told reporters here.

The sowing of paddy, the main kharif (summer) crop, has started picking up in major growing areas.

The coverage area under paddy crop has so far improved in states such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Punjab due to the pick-up in rains in June.

In Punjab, transplanting of paddy so far has been done in 12.45 lakh hectares against the target of 28 lakh hectares while farmers in Andhra Pradesh have sown the crop in 78 per cent of the average normal area. Telangana has seen similar progress, according to government data.

As of June 26, paddy in India was sown in only 23.28 lakh hectares, slightly lower than 25.04 lakh hectares in the year- ago period, the data showed.

Sowing of paddy and other paddy kharif crops begins with the onset of Southwest Monsoon.