There is not a single district in the state where rainfall has been above average.

State capital Lucknow has received its lowest rainfall in two decades. From June 1 to July 31, Lucknow recorded 192.3 mm rainfall against the average of 357.9 mm for this period.

In Allahabad, rainfall so far has been 53 percent below average, and in Varanasi 48 percent below average.

Scanty rainfall in most parts of the state will hit agricultural production leading to a shortage of rice, according to a government report.

According to the report prepared by the state agriculture department, the worst hit would be paddy yield, which is expected to decline by about 60 percent this year.

Last year's paddy output was about 13.1 million tonnes. The report states that this year's output is likely to be reduced to just around six million tonnes because of scanty rainfall.

Maize production is also expected to fall from 1.15 million tonnes to 900,000 tonnes.