Situation not alarming, more rain likely

The cumulative seasonal rainfall recorded across the country till July 16 this year is 24 per cent below normal, however, more showers are expected in the coming days, Hyderabad-based Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture said on Wednesday.

"The cumulative seasonal rainfall over the country in June is 43 per cent below normal. Subsequently the situation has improved, particularly in southern and central India, and as on July 16, the overall deficit is 24 per cent below normal with maximum deficit of 44 per cent in north west India," B Venkateswarlu, director of CRIDA, said.

States like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Bihar and some parts of Andhra Pradesh have recorded deficit rainfall, he said.

However, Venkateswarlu said the situation is not alarming as more rains are expected in the coming days and 'that there is a window for planning crops'.

"There has been a delay of 2-3 weeks in Kharif sowings in several parts of the country due to weak monsoon. The latest available statistics indicate that such crops have been sowed in 307 lakh hectares this year as against 411.5 hectares in 2008 as on July 10.

Subsequently, the situation has considerably improved and sowing and transplantation of paddy crops are in progress in many states," Venkateswarlu said.

The director of CRIDA said deficit rainfall may lead to increase in cultivation of pulses. "Though there is an initial shortfall, the area under pulses cultivation in northern states is likely to increase as it is used as a contingency crop."

Venkateswarlu said the Indian Council of Agriculture Research system, consisting of Institutes of ICAR, and 25 state agriculture universities, have developed contingency cropping strategy for various states for delayed monsoon.

The contingency cropping strategy include change of crops or varieties, moisture conservation measures, use of additional dose of nitrogen and growing fodder crops for extreme delay in monsoon.

Besides measures are taken to conserve moisture and rainwater harvesting to be used in Rabi crop cultivation when Kharif crops cannot be used due to inadequate rains, he said.

CRIDA collects information daily from all agricultural universities on weather and crop situation and provides information on contingency plans specific to states in the websites -- www.icar.org.in and cropweatheroutlook.ernet.in -- and through mass media, he said.

Asked if the deficit rainfall would impact foodgrain production in the country, Venkateswarlu said it cannot be  said as of now but the contingency plans are aimed at helping farmers with their cultivation.