Good monsoon expected to boost paddy output: Pawar

Taking a note of drought-hit states in the country, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Friday said that the reports received from deficit rainfall receiving states shows that paddy production will be better this season than in 2009. Pawar also informed about the monetary support worth five billion rupees to the drought-hit farmers by the centre, as subsidy of diesel in order to power their water pump-sets for irrigation purposes.