February 8, 2003	Saturday	Zul Hijjah 6,1423

NEW DELHI, Feb 7: India’s official Central Statistical Organization estimated Friday the country’s economic growth would slump to 4.4 percent in the fiscal year ending March, from 5.6 percent the previous year.

The organization said growth in the agriculture sector would fall to negative 3.1 per cent as a crippling drought had hit overall production.

Last year, the agricultural sector had grown by 5.7 per cent.

India’s economy is heavily dependent on agriculture despite growing industrialization.

Thirteen of India’s 29 states were declared drought-stricken last June and July, including the country’s bread basket northern states.

The Indian government labelled the drought the worst in 12 years and economists had warned that the impact on agricultural production could affect overall gross domestic product growth. India had set a target of achieving at least six percent growth at the start of the financial year beginning March.—AFP