<p>“Uttar Pradesh may receive fairly widespread rainfall activity during July 12-14,” IMD said, without specifying whether western Uttar Pradesh would get its due quota of monsoon rain.<br /><br />For the rest of the state, scattered rainfall is the only forecast.<br /><br />The condition in the northwest deteriorated last week, whereas the situation has improved in other regions.<br /><br />The monsoon is deficient by 50 per cent in the agriculturally most productive northwest regions comprising Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.<br /><br />Sources told Deccan Herald that the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) was working on a special agricultural strategy for states with deficient and scanty rainfall. The plan is expected to be finalised next week.<br /><br />Since the window for khariff sowing expires on July 15, the Centre has started working on a contingency plan. A meeting of the state agriculture secretaries to discuss emergency options is also on the cards.<br /><br />As on July 10, the cumulative seasonal rainfall for the country as a whole is 34 per cent below the average compared with last week when it was deficient by 43 per cent.<br /><br />Out of the 36 meteorological sub-divisions, the rainfall is deficient or scanty in 25 sub-divisions. The condition in 20 meteorological sub-divisions improved last week, but the situation deteriorated in eight sub-divisions, mainly in northwest India. The worst affected (rainfall deficiency of 60 per cent or more) sub-divisions are west Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.<br /><br />DH News Service</p>
<p>“Uttar Pradesh may receive fairly widespread rainfall activity during July 12-14,” IMD said, without specifying whether western Uttar Pradesh would get its due quota of monsoon rain.<br /><br />For the rest of the state, scattered rainfall is the only forecast.<br /><br />The condition in the northwest deteriorated last week, whereas the situation has improved in other regions.<br /><br />The monsoon is deficient by 50 per cent in the agriculturally most productive northwest regions comprising Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.<br /><br />Sources told Deccan Herald that the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) was working on a special agricultural strategy for states with deficient and scanty rainfall. The plan is expected to be finalised next week.<br /><br />Since the window for khariff sowing expires on July 15, the Centre has started working on a contingency plan. A meeting of the state agriculture secretaries to discuss emergency options is also on the cards.<br /><br />As on July 10, the cumulative seasonal rainfall for the country as a whole is 34 per cent below the average compared with last week when it was deficient by 43 per cent.<br /><br />Out of the 36 meteorological sub-divisions, the rainfall is deficient or scanty in 25 sub-divisions. The condition in 20 meteorological sub-divisions improved last week, but the situation deteriorated in eight sub-divisions, mainly in northwest India. The worst affected (rainfall deficiency of 60 per cent or more) sub-divisions are west Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.<br /><br />DH News Service</p>