Farmers prepare a field with organic fertilizer ahead of the monsoon. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, June 10: The Indian Meteorology Department has predicted less rainfall in the state this year, due to the effect of El Nino, a warm current in the Pacific Ocean that sometimes causes catastrophic weather conditions.

“There is a likelihood of 94 per cent of the normal rainfall in Odisha this year, which is considered as below normal,” director of regional meteorology centre Sarat Sahu told The Telegraph.

“Odisha receives a normal rainfall of 1,149.9mm between June and September. But this year, the state may receive around 1,092mm rainfall,” he said.

Sources in the met department said that last year, Odisha had recorded minus 2 per cent rainfall.

However, the weatherman said there should not be any panic at this preliminary stage. “Besides the EI Nino effect, there are other factors which support the monsoon rain. A good rainfall depends on the formation of low pressure or depression over the Bay of Bengal too,” said Sahu.

Though Odisha had witnessed the EI Nino effect over monsoon in the past, the impact was not disturbing every time, he said, recalling that the state had witnessed more rainfall in 1991, 1994, 1997 and 2009 despite the moderate El Nino effect.

Sahu said the onset of monsoon in the state was expected on June 15 or 16, and there would be a good rainfall after June 18.

The met department prediction about less rainfall today prompted the state government to take stock of its preparedness for the situation arising out of less or erratic rainfall as the state often reels from drought.

Reviewing the situation, chief minister Naveen Patnaik asked the agriculture and allied departments to prepare a contingency plan and get prepared for any eventuality.

In 2011, a severe drought had affected the state badly with a loss of 50 per cent or more crops in 17 districts.

State agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy said: “In case of crop loss due to erratic monsoon, farmers will be requiring more non-paddy seeds.”

Co-operation minister Damodar Rout said: “The monsoon is yet to arrive and it’s difficult to predict what would be the agricultural scenario. However, the government does not want to take risk and is getting ready for any eventuality.”

His department deals with crop loan and has decided to extend the loan to the tune of Rs 4,200 crore to farmers during this kharif season.