Drought Is Inevitable, Overall Rainfall Deficiency Remains at 22 Percent "Drought is inevitable, and the situation in August may not improve," said a farmer speaking in Karnataka and Maharasthra. "Even it if does, what can a farmer do now [that the planting window] has long gone?"Rainfall data from across the country suggest that many regions -- including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand -- have had deficient rainfall. This is threatening summer sown crops, primarily pulses, coarse cereals and even rice to some extent. The secretary of agriculture has indicated that India may not be able to achieve its estimated food grain production of 257.44 MMT (as per the 4th Adva...