NEW DELHI: Apprehending drought amid prediction of low rainfall during remaining days of the Monsoon season, the government on Wednesday approved proposals for initiating a series of farmer friendly interventions to save standing Kharif (summer) crops and sanctioned additional Rs 300 crore for the purpose.
These interventions include implementation of diesel subsidy scheme and raising the ceiling of seed subsidy for farmers in the states facing deficit rainfall.
The other measures, approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), include implementation of drought mitigating interventions on perennial horticulture crops and implementation of 'Additional Fodder Development Programme' for ensuring availability of fodder.
"These measures have been sanctioned with an additional allocation of Rs 300 crore during current financial year. Actual expenditure may vary depending upon the drought situation. These interventions will be applicable in all rainfall deficit areas of the country", said a government statement.
As a result of these interventions, state governments will be able to initiate immediate remedial measures to save standing agricultural crops and perennial orchards in rainfall deficient districts.
Besides, farmers will be able procure seeds for contingent cropping where normal sowing window is no longer available.
"Appropriate measures to ensure availability of fodder and feed for livestock will be possible because of these interventions. These intervention will help in minimising the adverse impact of deficient rainfall on agriculture production", said the statement, released after the CCEA meeting.
Such interventions are needed if different parts of the country face low rainfall during June-September.
South West Monsoon (June to September) contributes about 80% of total rainfall of the country. Timely onset and even spatial distribution of rainfall is crucial for cultivation of kharif crops that account for about 90% of paddy, 70% of coarse cereals and 70% of oilseed production of the country.
As per IMD Long Range Forecast for rainfall during second half (August & September) released on August 3, the rainfall over the country as a whole during the period is likely to be 84% of the Long Period Average (LPA) with a model error of ±8%.
The rainfall during August is likely to be 90% ± 9 % as was forecast in June. The season (June to September) rainfall over the country as a whole is likely to be 88% of LPA with a model error of ±4% as was forecast in June -- a situation which is termed as drought.
As per the report of the IMD, there has been deficit rainfall for states of Meghalaya(-33%), Nagaland(-58%), Manipur(-20%), Mizoram (-30%) , Bihar(-31%), Uttar Pradesh(-32%), Haryana(-24%), Punjab(-26%), Goa(-22%), Maharashtra(-26%), Telangana(-22%), Andhra Pradesh(-24%), Karnataka (-23%), and Kerala(-30%) as on August 12.
Source: Times of India
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