New Delhi, Monday, July 30, Rain scarcity during the monsoon (the lifeline of Indian agriculture) is raising nationwide concerns. There have been major cut in cultivation areas under rice, coarse cereals, pulses and oil seeds. Deficient rainfall this year is expected to hit sowing of coarse cereals and pulses in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
The agricultural production in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh is also expected to come down due to poor performance of the monsoon this year. Coarse cereals (Jowar and Bajra), Oilseeds (Groundnut and Soybean) and Pulses (Tur) have been affected by deficient rains.
The lack of rain would also affect the production of Kharif crops as sowing areas has reduced. Countrywide, the sowing areas till 13 July is 19 percent less than the sowing areas during the last year. Rain deficiency is likely to bring down the output of Kharif production by at least 25 to 30 percent. The situation is critical in Karnataka and central Maharashtra. The planted yield also might dip due to rain deficit.
