New Delhi: The country’s overall production of kharif crops like paddy is likely to be better than the last year if southwest monsoon rainfall continues to be favourable in the next two months, the government has said.

The sowing of kharif crops has begun with the start of the soutwest monsoon from June. Several parts of the country have received good rains, boosting the planting operations.

“In view of better progress of sowing of kharif crops, if rainfall conditions during the remaining period of current monsoon season continues to be favourable as per prediction of IMD, this year’s production scenario of kharif crops should be better than the last year,” Minister of State for Agriculture Sudarshan Bhagat said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. Till last week, total area sown to kharif crops was higher by 11.38 lakh hectares when compared to the year-ago period, he said. He also said that it is too early to have firm assessment of the kharif production for this year as the initial estimates are normally released in September. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has projected better than normal rains after two drought years. In a separate reply, Minister of State for Agriculture Parshottam Rupala said the central schemes on agriculture are implemented for all farmers including SCs and STs. About 8 per cent and 15-16.2 per cent of the total funds allocated to the ministry are earmarked for tribal sub-plan and scheduled caste sub plan, respectively, during the current 2016-17 fiscal, he added. — PTI