Panaji: Despite Goa continuing to record below-normal monsoon rainfall this season, the state has received enough rain to sustain agriculture and allied activities, said Parveen Kumar, director of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-CCARI).“The state usually gets surplus rainfall, much of which flows into the Arabian Sea. Though rainfall is lower compared to the 30-year average, the rainfall received so far is sufficient for agricultural activities,” Kumar said.The inconsistent monsoon had postponed paddy transplantation by 15 days in some areas, leaving a backlog for farmers renting mechanised equipment from the directorate of agriculture.“Initially, transplanting was delayed by about two weeks. But now there is enough rainfall. Most of the transplanting has been completed, and farmers are getting adequate rain. The paddy crop is standing well, and there is no dearth of water,” he said.Goa continues to record a monsoon rainfall deficit, with the India Meteorological Department reporting that the state received 1,281.8mm of rain from June 1 to July 30 against the normal 1,929.3mm, a deficit of 33.6%.
