Bhubaneswar, July 9: Here is some good news for farmers. The meteorological department has assured that monsoon is healthy. The rain shortfall in June was on account of a sluggish start, which would be made up soon. The rains hit Odisha on June 15.

Director general of meteorology L.S. Rathore, who was in Bhubaneswar for a workshop on tropical cyclone predictions, said: “The only area which may get less rainfall is the north-western region, where the predicted rainfall is around 93 per cent, which is three per cent less than the prediction for the entire country.”

A low depression has formed over the Bay of Bengal and more rainfall is likely in many parts of Odisha in the next 24 hours.

Out of 30 districts, around 23 have received adequate rainfall to begin farming activities.

Rathore said: “With the sluggish start in June, the deficiency was - 31 per cent. However, with the beginning of July, rain started pouring in many parts, especially in those areas where it was not raining till end the of June. So deficiencies are now being made up. The deficiency yesterday was -25 per cent.”

Rathore further said since the sowing and transplantation of crops started, there had been continuous rainfall. However, there have been many pockets in the interior areas of Karnataka, central Maharashtra, Gujarat, western Rajasthan and Haryana, where the rainfall has been substantially below normal. “As of now, there is nothing to worry about. Monsoon health is now good,” he said.

In July, the rainfall has decreased in the north-eastern region. “Though these areas are reflecting deficiencies, there is nothing to worry about from the point of view of agriculture,” Rathore said.

He said the monsoon was picking up. In the next three or four days, rainfall would be reported both in central and eastern India.