India, June 17 -- Maharashtra received only 26 per cent of its normal rainfall in the first half of June, prompting the Government to advise farmers "not to hurry" crop sowing, as per a crop situation review presented before the State Cabinet on Tuesday.

The State received 27.4 mm of rainfall from June 1 to June 15 against the normal rainfall of 103.8 mm.

The report stated that preparatory agricultural activities, including nursery raising for paddy and finger millet and pre-sowing field operations, are underway across the State.

"As rainfall is likely to remain weak till mid-June, instructions have been issued to farmers not to hurry with sowing operations," the presentation noted.

The report said rainfall is expected to remain scatt...