The number of states with rainfall deficit rose to 11 as of July 11 from 10 earlier, as the country received 2.3 percent less than normal rainfall, according to data released by Indian Meteorological Department.
A dry spell over the last three days also led to Chandigarh and Jharkhand witnessing over 50 percent rainfall deficit.
In monsoon parlance, a normal is calculated using a long-period average of 30 years for a specific region.
Data indicates that two states have received large excess and seven states excess rainfall. The IMD on Friday issued an orange alert for Mumbai indicating heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next two days.
Area sown under major crops was high 14 percent higher as of July 5 compared with the previous year, as rainfall situation improved across the country.
Data released on July 7, showed that paddy, pulses and oilseeds experienced over 50 percent higher acreage from similar period in the previous year. Area sown under paddy and pulses was 3.68 million hectares, whereas oilseeds covered 8.03 million hectares.
Sowing under coarse cereals was down a third during this period, whereas sugarcane was up 2.5 percent.
As on July 5, the area sown for Urad has reached 0.54 million hectares, as compared to 0.37 million hectares for corresponding period last year, the consumer affairs ministry said on July 10.
The reservoir situation has also improved. Reservoir levels were down 10 percent from normal as of July 4, compared with 16 percent in the previous week.
Andhra Pradesh and Bihar continue to face over 70 percent deficit in capacity.
The government is hoping for a revival of its agricultural sector, which recorded 1.4 percent growth in FY24 compared to 4.7 percent in the previous year, also lower than the 3.7 percent long-term average.
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