Drought-like situation looms large in Odisha: Minister

Bhubaneswar, Aug 29:

A drought-like situation looms large in Odisha as the state has received 11.5 percent less rainfall this year, a minister said here on Saturday.

It will in all likelihood affect the state’s foodgrain production target of 10.1 million tonnes in the 2015 kharif season.

Revenue Minister Bijoyshree Routray told the assembly that Odisha has received 11.5 percent less rainfall during June-August this year.

The state received 8.4 percent more rainfall than normal in June while it received 9.3 percent less in July and 27.2 percent less in August. Kandhamal district was the worst-affected, Routray said.

He assured, however, that the government is well prepared to meet the situation arising out of less rainfall.

According to government sources, the state government has set a foodgrain production target of 10.1 million tonnes in the 2015 kharif season, which includes 9.51 million tonnes of cereals and 0.587 million tonnes (mt) of pulses.

The cereals include 8.24 mt of rice, 1.09 mt of maize, 0.162 mt of ragi. Similarly, pulses comprise 0.19 mt of arhar, 0.15 mt of mung and 0.176 mt of biri. (IANS)