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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday said that this year’s monsoon rains was still deficient by 23 percent, but added that the showers have covered the entire country. "Rainfall situation has improved, but it is still minus 23 percent. Monsoon is covering the entire country today, with parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan receiving heavy rains," IMD Director General L S Rathore told media here on Wednesday. With improvement in monsoon rains, Rathore noted that the planting of paddy, soyabean and groundnut would pick up. He, however, pointed out that scanty rains in Karnataka and Maharashtra might affect coarse cereals. Rathore was speaking to media after attending a meeting with Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Food Minister K V Thomas to discuss the progress of the monsoon. "Rains will now shift to Himalayas , Terai and north east region. The 23 percent deficit in rains is likely to continue until next week," Rathore said. So far, he said that some parts of Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat and central Madhya Pradesh have received scanty rains. India had produced a record 252.56 million tonnes of foodgrains in 2011-12 crop year (July-June) on good monsoon last year. Monsoon rains are crucial for agriculture sector, which contributes about 15 percent to the country's GDP, as only 40 percent of the total cultivable area is under irrigation.

Monsoon 23 percent deficient, says weather department chief