Kharif crop in 10,000 ha affected in 5 flood-hit states

Kharif crops, like paddy, sown in about 10,000 hectares (ha) in five-flood hit states have been impacted so far, Agriculture Secretary Shobhana K Patnaik said today.
"About 5,000 to 10,000 hectares in flood plains have been impacted due to floods. We are yet to get the complete update from the states," Patnaik told PTI.
Heavy rainfall has worsened the flood situation in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.
Sowing of kharif (summer) crops, which began with the onset of southwest monsoon from June, is almost completed in some places.
Till last week, kharif crops were planted in 992.76 lakh hectare across India, higher than 938.57 lakh hectare in the same period last year, as per the government data.

The Met Department has forecast better than normal rains for the four-month season ending September.

India produced around 252 million tonnes of foodgrains in each of the past two crop years (2015-16 and 2014-15) due to two consecutive drought years.
On hopes of better rains this year, the government is targeting a record production of 270 million tonnes in 2016-17 crop year.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed concern over the worsening flood situation in the five states and promised total support from the Centre in rescue and relief operations.