Amid poor rainfall, government reviews sowing situation in major states

NEW DELHI: Concerned over deficient rains, the Centre today reviewed monsoon and sowing situation in six major states, including Karnataka and Maharashtra, and said rains in August would be crucial to make up shortfall in area.

Union Agriculture Secretary Ashish Bahuguna today called top officials of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana for discussing the contingency plans in these states which have received scanty rains so far.

"Overall, rainfall deficiency has reduced to 22 per cent from 30 per cent in June. Rains in July have not been that bad. Rains in August are crucial to make up shortfall in area in these states," Bahuguna told reporters after the meeting.

Pointing out that large parts of land are still unsown in these six states, he said that there is still time for sowing and the shortfall could be made up if rains are good in the next month. "There is sufficient supply of seeds in these states for late sowing."

As per the latest data, the area under all the monsoon-sown crops have declined by 14 per cent to 53.4 million hectares from a year earlier.

On Karnataka, he said there is a shortfall of 10 lakh hectare area under kharif crops so far but expected that 8 lakh hectare could be made up if monsoon recovers.

Expressing concern over rain situation in Maharashtra, the Secretary said that 8.65 lakh hectare is likely to remain unsown due to lack of rains in western Maharashtra.
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