The Hindu : National : `Monsoon just marginally deficient'

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Saturday, Sep 17, 2005

National

National

`Monsoon just marginally deficient'

Special Correspondent

COIMBATORE: With the monsoon only marginally deficient in parts of the country, sowing for crops is satisfactory, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said on Friday.

Rainfall was deficient — up to eight per cent — only in parts of Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and three coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. "Hence, the monsoon has been satisfactory overall," he told mediapersons after laying the foundation stone for a Sugarcane Biotechnology Laboratory at the Sugarcane Breeding Institute here.

The sowing of paddy, sugarcane, cotton and coarse grains was more than what was covered last year.

He admitted that oilseeds production was less than demand, but it would not result in any additional import of edible oil. "We have been importing some quantity and that will continue."

Asked about the tardy progress in the exploitation of ethanol for mixing with petrol, he said, "The matter is with the oil companies. We have already requested them and we have taken a decision to mix five per cent ethanol." With the crude price spiralling, "the importance of ethanol cannot be ignored." Sixteen States had accepted amendments to the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee Act (which would promote contract farming).

Discussions were on in others. Some States would have to change their laws.

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