Voicing concern over deficient monsoon rains, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Sunday said the country may face a "serious" situation if it does not rain in the next two months.
"Everything depends on the return of rains in August and September. But if it doesn't, the situation would become serious," he said. Pawar was speaking at the inauguration of a skywalk at Bonkode in Navi Mumbai.
Monsoon rains are crucial for the agriculture sector, which contributes about 15 per cent to the country's GDP, as only 40 per cent of the total cultivable area is under irrigation. Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab and West Rajasthan have been the worst-hit regions this year.
