Monsoon 31% below average up to July 2: Pawar

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 on Tuesday said.

The monsoon rains have been 31 per cent below average up to July 2, Pawar said.

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 hectare, coarse cereals in 10.42 lakh hectare, oilseeds in 10.77 lakh hectare and pulses 3.99 lakh 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).