Monsoon improves slightly in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, July 27 (IANS) The annual monsoon rainfall has improved slightly in Odisha during the past one week although it still remained weak, an official said Friday.

The state received a total of 437.4 mm rainfall so far against the average of 503.7 mm for this time of the season, an official of the Bhubaneswar meteorological centre told IANS.

"Last week the deficit was 20 percent. However owing to heavy rains in some areas, deficit has come down to about 13 percent," the official said.

Odisha contributes about one-tenth of the country's total rice production. A good monsoon is crucial for the state which has about 73 percent of its work force engaged in the agriculture sector.

Monsoon normally reaches the state by June 10. However, this year it was delayed by a week. As a result, paddy transplantation could not be taken up in several parts of the state.

With the weatherman forecasting heavy rains in the next two-three days, the Met official hoped that the deficit may further reduce in the state.