Decisions for meeting situation of deficit rainfall

No: --- Dated: Aug, 12 2015

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal of the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture for initiating a series of farmer friendly interventions in the wake of deficient rainfall as per IMD forecast of below average monsoon. This will help in dealing with challenges posed by delayed and aberrant monsoon. Immediate remedial measures are to be initiated to save standing agricultural crops and perennial orchards.

CCEA approved following interventions/measures to be initiated by State governments in the eventuality of drought deficit rainfall situation:

a) Implementation of Diesel Subsidy Scheme for protective irrigation of crops with an allocation of Rs. 100 crore;

b) Enhancement of ceiling on seed subsidy to partially recompense the farmer for the additional expenditure incurred in resowing and purchasing appropriate varieties of seeds;

c) Implementation of drought mitigating interventions on perennial horticulture crops with an additional allocation of Rs. 150 crore under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH);

d) Implementation of Additional Fodder Development Programme (AFDP) as a sub-scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) with an allocation of Rs. 50 crore during 2015-16 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/measures will be applicable in all rainfall deficit areas of the country.

As a result of the above interventions, farmers will be better equipped to deal with challenges posed by delayed and aberrant monsoon, as 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 or resowing is required. Appropriate measures to ensure availability of fodder and feed for livestock will be possible because of these interventions. These intervention will help in minimizing the adverse impact of deficient rainfall on agriculture production.

Background:

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 03.08.2015, the rainfall over the country as a whole during the second half of the season 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.

As per the report of the IMD till today 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%), AP(-24%), Karnataka (-23%), and Kerala(-30%).