BHUBANESWAR: As inflation has touched almost 12 percent mark and prediction of an erratic monsoon doing the rounds, it seems, crop yield in this kharif season may be less than expected. With rise in petroleum prices, farm inputs have gone up but if the monsoon plays truant, then the production would be affected much. Though tall claims are made, in practice less than 20 percent area is irrigated through canal water in Orissa, hence an erratic rainfall pattern might cause a serious threat, admits noted economist and former vicechancellor of OUAT Prof. Baidyanath Mishra adding though much has been spent on the canal irrigation system in the country a study has revealed that only 15 percent area has got irrigation facility in the last 200 years. Calling for an immediate measure to trap rain water through various water harvesting mechanisms, he said as Orissa receives more than 1,500 mm rain annually, a planned rainwater harvesting policy would work wonders in case of an erratic monsoon. The price rise or incentives only helped the middlemen and government employees and the farmers who toiled hard never received any benefit out of it, he summerises adding a streamlined public distribution system is also the need of the hour to help the marginal farmers. Agro-meteorologist with OUAT Prof S Pasupalak says from Kerala to Marathwada and up to southern Orissa though this monsoon has got excessive rainfall during June, in July many parts of the State are receiving very scanty rainfall. Especially Gajapati and Rayagada districts have received 60 percent less rain in July making things difficult for small farmers, he says adding Angul, Dhenkanal, Bhawanipatna, Ganjam and Nabarangpur districts have received 19 percent less rain in July.