An emergency meeting of the Cabinet was held at Mantralaya here on Tuesday to discuss the situation arising out of the delay in the onset of the monsoon. The meeting finalised contingency plans for the farmers.
Chairing the meeting, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that preparations should be made at every level to deal with any adverse situation. He directed departmental officers to chalk out contingency plans for the farmers. It is noteworthy that the monsoon situation has deteriorated in the wake of climate changes due to the Al Nino factor.
Extremely below normal or negligible rains have been registered in a number districts in the state. Concern is being expressed throughout the country on the delay in the arrival of the monsoon.Chouhan has assured the farmers that the Government has detailed and effective contingency action plan in place to deal with the situation.
Taking a serious view of the sale of spurious fertilisers and seeds, the Chief Minister said that it will not be enough to register FIR against the culprits. Such sellers cheating on farmers should be sent to jail. The meeting was informed that 17 sellers of substandard seeds have been caught.
He directed to prepare two contingency plans to deal with arrival of monsoon before July 15 and after July 15. He wanted action plans regarding availability of water in reservoirs in the state, seeds and fertilisers and alternative sowing on the basis of type of soil and fields. He said that a campaign should be launched to advise the farmers as to sowing of which crop will be beneficial for them in case of late sowing due to monsoon delay. A scheme to inform and educate the farmers should also be chalked out. He instructed for district-wise review of seed and water availability. He said that attention should be paid to availability of seeds of crops grown in tribal areas in emergency situation. If needed, control rooms should also be set up at state and district levels.
The meeting decided that water will be released as per requirement from irrigation reservoirs for the crops. Water will be reserved in reservoirs only for emergency situation. For the first time, onion crops will be sown in five thousand hectares during the Kharif in the State. The farmers should be motivated to sow early ripening crops.
The meeting was informed that Al Nino effect has brought about climatic change throughout the world affecting farming. Kharif crops, mainly paddy, maize and soybean, have been sown in 130.20 lakh hectares. It was also informed that the National Seeds Corporation, seed producing cooperative societies and the Seed Corporation have adequate quantity of seeds.
Under contingency plans, the farmers will be advised to sow early-ripening varieties of millet, maize, sesame, arhar, moong, urad, soya bean and paddy if monsoon arrives before July 15 and sowing of arandi, urad and sesame in case of monsoon arrival after July 15.For the first time, weather-based scheme is being implemented in horticulture sector in the State including banana, potato, tomato, brinjal, cauliflower, cabbage and chilli.
Ministers, Chief Secretary Anthony DeSa and senior officers were present on the occasion.