Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar heading a high level central team to tour worst drought affected states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Rajasthan has reached Mumbai on the first leg of his visit. He is scheduled to meet Maharashtra Chief Minister, Prithviraj Chavan later this afternoon to discuss the situation.

AIR correspondent adds that over 11,000 villages in 145 talukas of Maharashtra are facing a drought-like situation, as compared to 7,500 villages last year. The average rainfall is almost 20% less than last year and the sowing operations have been below normal in 202 talukas. Union Rural Development Minister, Jairam Ramesh is part of the team that will visit Karnataka tomorrow.The other members of the central team include Agriculture Secretary, Animal Husbandry secretary and Rural Development secretary.The team will also hold meetings in Gujarat and Rajasthan on Friday.

AIR correspondent reports,while the all-India average of rainfall deficiency is 21 per cent, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan are worst affected regions.Different regions in Karnataka have seen rain deficiency between 21 per cent to 44 per cent with the maximum impact felt in South interior parts of the state.Western Rajasthan has received 64 per cent less rainfall in the season, Saurashtra and Kutch regions in Gujarat are short by 78 per cent so far.Due to deficient rains, the Karnataka government has declared drought in 142 taluks and has also announced 3,500 crore rupee package to mitigate farmers' suffering.Sowing of pulses and coarse cereals like maize, jowar and bajra has been badly affected . Although paddy area is also down by 18 lakh hectares so far, there is still hope that shortfall will be made up as paddy season extends till August.The government has conceded that production in 2012-13 would be lower than the last year's record output.