Rice crop may be hit due to weak monsoon: Pawar

The government today said paddy crop may be "adversely impacted" due to weak and erratic monsoon in various parts of the country but a contingency plan is being drawn to tackle with the situation.     

"Contingency plans are getting operationalised in the areas where dry spell is getting prolonged," Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said, replying to a calling attention motion in the Rajya Sabha on the monsoon situation.

"Monsoon this year has been weak and erratic in its progress and distribution resulting in late sowing of crops... Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, Assam, Manipur and parts of some other states are likely to be affected by the deficient rainfall," he said.     

As on July 23, Pawar said, there is 19 per cent deficiency of rainfall in the country as a whole, with North-West region deficient by 38 per cent and North East region by 43 per cent.     

He, however, said the situation has improved in most parts of the country except the North-West and North-East regions and UP and Bihar.     

The minister said "rice area and productivity may be adversely impacted which could be compensated to some extent by cultivating oilseeds, pulses and some coarse cereals in additional areas."