Production worries

Patchy rainfall could affect kharif output

With the main kharif sowing season now coming to an end, it seems fairly certain that the nearly 10 per cent surplus rainfall till mid-August might not yield commensurate gains in farm production. In fact, on the contrary, the uneven spread of this precipitation, over both time and space, might adversely affect the plantings and, more so, the production of some key crops, including the main kharif cereal rice. Though the area under commercial crops like cotton, sugarcane and soybean has expanded, the output outlook is far from upbeat because of rain-related issues. While the final outcome would depend on