Saturday, August 9, 2014

Saving Agriculture from Drought

Cumulative rainfall till 05.08.2014 was 405.3 mm which is 19% less than normal or Long Period Average (LPA) of 499.3 mm. As per information provided by IMD, out of 620 districts for which rainfall data is available, 251 (40%) have so far received normal/excess rainfall. 

State Governments are empowered to initiate appropriate relief measures in the wake drought from funds readily available under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Additional financial assistance, over and above SDRF, is provided from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) as per established procedure and extant norms, upon receipt of detailed drought relief memorandum from the State Government. For current year (2014-15), Government of India has not received any drought relief memorandum from any State, so far. 

Government has taken several measures to address any situation arising due to deficiency in monsoon rainfall. 

Central Research Institute of Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), in collaboration with State Agricultural Universities has prepared contingency plans for 551 districts for implementing location specific interventions to sustain agriculture production in the eventuality of weak monsoon/deficient rainfall. 

States have been advised to ensure availability of short duration and drought tolerant varieties of seeds so as to be in a position to supply them to farmers in case such a need arises and to keep aside 10% of funds available under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and other schemes for undertaking appropriate interventions to mitigate any situation arising out of Deficient rainfall. 

States have also been requested to construct water harvesting structures, restore irrigation infrastructure by desilting canals; energizing tubewells, replacing/repairing faulty pumps and arranging power to meet irrigation needs. 

Decisions have also been taken for introduction of diesel subsidy scheme, enhancement of seed subsidy, waiver of import duty on oil cakes to increase availability of feed ingredients, implementation of fodder development scheme and introducing interventions on perennial horticulture crops to cope with any eventual drought and rainfall deficit situation in the country. 

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for rural drinking water in the wake of natural calamities, deliberating preparedness, response and relief at State, District, Block and Panchayat/village levels have been prepared and shared with States. Standard format for monitoring the activities undertaken by the States for drought mitigation has also been devised and States have been requested to provide requisite information on a fortnightly basis. 

Government has already released 15% of funds earmarked for operation and maintenance (O&M) under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) to States for utilizing during natural calamity such as drought for repair/maintenance of damaged water supply systems. 

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