Though the rains were delayed, Orissa is aiming at foodgrain production of about eight million tonne during the current kharif season against last year's 7.03 million tonne.
"Monsoon is by and large normal in Orissa though it was delayed by some days. Orissa along with others states of eastern India will have no problem," Agriculture minister Damodar Rout told PTI.
"We can certainly overcome the impact of delayed monsoon." Asking farmers not to panic over deficient rainfall in northen states, Rout said this time the state was storing about one million tonne of paddy.
While the state required 60 lakh tonne of rice, it produced over 70 lakh tonne, Rout said and rejected the possibility of a drought like situation as in other parts of the country.
To a query, Rout said the state government had earmarked Rs 7 crore for crop insurance.
The local met office, however, put the rainfall in the deficit category. "Till July 9, Orissa recorded 31 per cent less rainfall than normal," met director G Ray said.
The state received 212.9 mm rainfall till July 9 against the normal of 306.8 mm, he said.
"Rainfall was deficient by 62 per cent in June, but it is good in July," director of Agriculture Arabinda Padhee said.
