By IANS,
Lucknow : Scanty rainfall in most parts of Uttar Pradesh, where 58 of its 71 districts have been declared drought-hit, will hit agricultural production leading to a shortage of rice in the state, says a government report.
According to the report prepared by the state agriculture department, the worst hit would be paddy yield, which is expected to decline by about 60 percent this year.
Last year’s paddy output was about 13.1 million tonnes. According to the report, which has not yet been made public, this year’s output is likely to be reduced to just around six million tonnes because of scanty rainfall.
“This was bound to happen as far as paddy crop is concerned as farmers depend on the rain-fed traditional method for transplanting paddy crops,” said agricultural scientist K.B. Trivedi.
Maize production is also expected to fall 1.15 million tonnes to 900,000 tonnes.
The government declared 58 districts drought-hit last month.
The districts where rainfall has been lowest include Chitrakoot (81 percent below normal), Etah (84 percent below normal) and Rampur (85 percent below normal).
There is not a single district in the state where rainfall has been above normal.
Lucknow has received its lowest rainfall in two decades. From June 1 to July 31, the state capital recorded 192.3 mm rainfall against the average of 357.9 mm during this period.