Around 12 per cent monsoon deficiency in June has set the alarm bells ringing in the government circles keeping in mind the drought of 2009.
Though it is the initial phase of the Kharif sowing season, the government is keeping a close watch on the monsoon movement hoping to maximise crop production this y
ear. The severe drought of 2009 dented paddy production by around 16 million tonnes and affected government’s food security plans. “We are keeping our fingers crossed. Though rains have been less in June, our main concern is July, the main sowing window,” said a senior official in the farm ministry. “We are reviewing the progress daily.” Consequently, officials remained huddled into meetings for most of Tuesday taking stock of the monsoon projections and the progress of sowing across the country, which is less as compared to the last years.
Officials said sowing in June is mostly done in southern parts of the country, which have received good rains so far.
But the problem areas, they said, are the central plains including UP, west MP and east Rajasthan, where monsoon projections are below normal for the first week of July. Going by the estimates of the Met department, which has indicated a week’s delay in the monsoon activity over the central and eastern regions, ministry officials said they would be indeed be worried if the delay goes beyond that period.