Deficit rainfall in east hits rice cultivation: IMD

NEW DELHI - Northeastern and east India have received deficient rainfall this monsoon, which has adversely affected rice cultivation and other agricultural operations, the weather office said Friday.

“Despite satisfactory position as far as rainfall for the country as a whole is concerned, the deficit rainfall scenario persists over the states of northeast India, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh,” the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The rainfall has been deficit by 23 percent in northeast states so far.

The effect of a long dry spell on crops in West Bengal, especially in south Bengal, is still persisting while most of the districts in Bihar and Jharkhand have also experienced adverse impact of persistent deficient rainfall.

“Due to long dry spell and erratic distribution of rainfall in these states, sowing/transplanting of rice as well as other agricultural operations have been affected adversely,” it said.

It also said the country as a whole is likely to receive normal rainfall during the last month of monsoon in September.

The country as a whole has received 625.2 mm rainfall during the current monsoon season (till Aug 21), which is marginally deficient by 3 percent. As of now the country has received 70 percent of its seasonal rainfall quantum of 892.1 mm, said an IMD statement.

The seasonal (June to September) rainfall over the three geographical regions (northwest India, central India and south peninsula) is also likely to be within the normal limits. However, the season’s rainfall over northeast India is expected to be below normal.