Chandigarh: A delayed monsoon has hit paddy sowing in Punjab, the country’s grain bowl that contributes 40% of rice to the central pool. Agricultural experts say this could lead to a decline of at least 25 lakh tonnes in rice production. A rain deficit of 83% till July first week has meant that only 13.3lakh hectares are under paddy cultivation. Last year, around the same time, 17.8lakh hectares were under paddy cultivation. P S Rangi, marketing consultant of Punjab State Farmers’ Commission, said enough damage had already been done. “Lack of sufficient water has hit paddy in almost all parts of the state and things may g et worse if monsoon gets delayed further.” According to Balbir Singh Rajewal, president of the Punjab unit of Bharatiya Kisan Union, rice output is bound to drop this year. “If it doesn’t rain now, and rain well, rice production might go down by at least 20 to 25%.” On an average, Punjab produces 160lakh tonnes of paddy, 48lakh tonnes of sugarcane and 3.5lakh tonnes of maize annually and the conversion rate for paddy into rice is 67%. Arunaba Ghosh, head of the Delhi-based think-tank Council on Energy, Environment and Water, said delay in planting crops means lower yields. Because of the delay in monsoon and slow melting of snow in the higher reaches, water level in Bhakra and Pong dams has dropped drastically, forcing Punjab to consider reduction in water supply to farmers. “Advisories have been issued to farmers in south-west Punjab to make alternative arrangements. In fact, cotton growers in these regions have more reason to worry. Productivity will be hampered if it doesn’t rain for the next week," said Dr M S Gill from Panjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Meanwhile, farmers are concerned about rising input costs. Shower cheer Friday brought cheer for Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana with light rain and thunderstorm. The Met says monsoon has arrived in some cities and will cover the region in the next two days. The weatherman said, “Conditions for advance of monsoons are favourable in the region.”