August 21, 2009
India rains deficient 60 percent in some states
India monsoon rains in some states have been 60-percent deficient since the start of the season in June, the federal farm minister said Friday.
Prolonged dry spells during "critical" crop growth periods could result in reduced crop health, "and consequently productivity," Sharad Pawar said at a conference.
Pawar said summer-sown rice area under cultivation is down 15 percent compared with a year ago, but he hopes that winter-sown rice area will increase.
The four-month monsoon season is crucial for summer-sown crops like rice, sugar cane, pulses and oilseeds as 60 percent of the country farmlands are rain-fed.
