THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The absence of rain in June will adversely affect agriculture and power generation in the state. Authorities had lowered the water level in the dams due to fears of heavy rains in the monsoon. However, the water level in most of these dams has drastically decreased due to the absence of rain. Cultivation for the Onam season, when the agricultural market is most active, depends on the rainfall in June. The government had aimed to produce 80 percent of the vegetables required during the Onam season in the state itself. This goal has now received a huge setback due to the lack of rain. However, for the last two years, the rainfall has been less in June and July and more in August and September. According to the Met office, this will happen again this year.

• The state needs 20 lakh tonnes of vegetables a year
• About 60 percent of this is consumed during Onam.
• The vegetable production in the state has increased to 16 lakh tonnes since this government came to power
• Earlier it was 8 lakh tonnes
• It is feared that the production will fall to 12 lakh tonnes due to declining rainfall.