The deficient rainfall during last month has affected the sowing of coarse cereals but there is no cause for worry for the paddy crop, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said on Tuesday.
The monsoon rains have been 31 per cent below average up to July 2, Pawar told reporters in New Delhi.
He said the rainfall deficiency has affected sowing of coarse cereals, but situation in paddy is 'not worrisome'.
Till June 29 of the current Kharif season, rice was sown in 30.72 lakh (3.07 million) hectare, coarse cereals in 10.42 lakh (1.04 million) hectare, oilseeds in 10.77 lakh (1.07 million) hectare and pulses 399,000
hectare.
Monsoon rains, crucial for the country's agriculture as only 40 per cent cultivable area is irrigated.
Besides, higher agri incomes on account of good crop push up economic growth.
On the back of good monsoon last year, the country had produced record 252.56 million tonnes of foodgrain in 2011-12 crop year (July to June).
