Kharif sowing drops by 30% to 0.94 million hectares in Odisha

Sowing of paddy, the key Kharif crop, has plunged by 32 per cent to 0.78 million hectares compared to 1.16 million hectares covered as on July 7 last year

Deficient rains during June and in the first week of July has taken a toll on the sowing of cereals in the ongoing kharif season. The sowing data shows a drop of about 30 per cent to 0.94 million hectares compared to 1.33 million hectares covered last year.

During June, the state had recorded 160.8 millimeter of rains against the normal rainfall of 216.5 millimeter, a deficiency of 25.7 per cent. So far in July, the state has witnessed a whopping 46 per cent less rains.

Sowing of paddy, the key Kharif crop, has plunged by 32 per cent to