Delayed monsoon hits Faizabad farmers hard

Faizabad (Uttar Pradesh), July 2 (ANI): A delayed monsoon is affecting the planting of pulses, cotton, paddy and soybean here, and farmers expect a low produce due to drying paddy fields.

The next two weeks are crucial as late sowing could hit yield. In some areas, farmers might have to sow a second time as rains failed after the first planting.

Vinod Kumar Yadav, a local farmer, said that low productivity would result in less income as drought like conditions affect production.

"Due to a delay in the monsoon our crops have damaged. We are worried as our agricultural land is drying up. Where ever you go, you will find the dried up land. Due to damaged crops there is nothing to eat," Yadav said.

Monsoon rains were below average last week, fanning concerns about output of crops despite reassurances from weather officials.

India is sticking to its forecast for an average monsoon this year despite a slow start, with July and August providing the majority of rainfall.

Rains so far from June 01 have been 23 percent below average, compared with 10.7 percent above average in June 01-29 last year. They picked up in the week to June 20 to be just five percent below average.

India usually experiences monsoon rains from June to September, which are vital for its agriculture. (ANI)