Poor rains damage 70 pct of guar crop in Rajasthan

JAIPUR (Reuters) - The poor monsoon has damaged nearly 70 percent of the standing guar crop in Rajasthan, a top state government official said late on Monday.

"Though the monsoon has gathered momentum in the last few days, the damage has already been done. The guar crop has already suffered extensive damage. The rains came a bit late," said D.S. Yadav, deputy director in the farm department.

The Rajasthan government had on Aug. 25 declared drought in 26 out of 33 districts following over 50 percent damage to the crops due to poor monsoon this year.

Guar is generally a rain fed monsoon crop in Rajasthan and requires 8-15 inches of rain in 3-4 spell.