Chhattisgarh, the State that recieved scanty rainfall in as many as five districts this monsoon, has failed to find its space in the list of rain-deficient States released by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
As per the latest IMD report, till Thursday, poor rainfall has been recorded in 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%).
The districts of Rajnandgaon, Koriya, Kanker, Balod and Gariaband have received below average rain this season. The State has registered 599.5 mm of rainfall so far. “In the five districts with scanty rainfall, power supply required for irrigation pumps should be ensured,” the Chief Minister said.
Raman Singh had earlier directed to let farmers to extract water from rivers and rivulets for the Kharif season crops through irrigation pumps in the districts where ever the rainfall is found deficient.
Notably, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal of the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture to allay farmer issues in the wake of inadequate rainfall as per IMD forecast of below average monsoon.
The steps recommended by CCEA have been approved with an additional allocation of Rs. 300 crore during current financial year. Actual expenditure may vary depending upon the drought situation. These will be applicable in all rainfall deficit areas of the country.
As a result, farmers will be better equipped to deal with challenges posed by delayed and aberrant monsoon, as State Governments will be capable to initiate immediate remedial measures to save agricultural crops and perennial orchards in rainfall-deficient districts. Besides, farmers will be able to procure seeds for contingent cropping wherein normal sowing window is available no longer or resowing is required. Appropriate measures to ensure the availability of fodder and feed for livestock are expected to be possible because of this major step. These interventions will help minimise the adverse impact of deficient rainfall on agriculture production.
The South-West Monsoon (June-September) contributes about 80 per cent 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 released on August 3, rainfall in the whole country during second half of the season (August & September) is likely to be 84 per cent of the long Period Average (lPA) with a model error of ±8%. The rainfall during August is likely to be 90% ± 9 % as it was forecast in June. While in the season (June-September), rainfall in the contry is expected upto 88% of lPA with a model error of ±4% as it was forecastin June.