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As per the Agriculture Ministry’s Crisis Management Plan, a GoM is set up only when there is a “full-blown drought.”
Maharashtra today was the latest to declare 10 of its districts as affected by drought, taking the number of such districts in the country to 177 — more than one-fourth of all districts.
The overall deficiency in rainfall in the entire country has increased from 25 per cent last week to 29 per cent now.
The India Meteorological Department, earlier this week, downgraded its rainfall estimate for the four-month monsoon season from 93 per cent to 87 per cent.
The Met revealed that the weekly rainfall for the week ending August 12 was 56 per cent below normal. Thus, the first two weeks of August have seen 64 per cent and 56 per cent deficient rainfall. Given the bleak situation, experts believe that this year could result in a drought worse than that in 2002.
An area is said to experience “moderate drought” if rainfall deficiency is between 26 and 50 per cent from normal. Areas where deficiency is more than 50 per cent are classified as “severely drought-affected.”
If the area affected by moderate or severe drought comprises 20-40 per cent of the total geographical area of the country and rainfall deficiency in the entire country for the season exceeds 10 per cent, the year is considered to be a drought year for the country. More than 40 per cent of the area under drought conditions results in an all-India severe drought year.
In 2002, the overall rainfall deficiency for the entire season (June 1 to September 30) was 19 per cent and 29 per cent of the country’s geographical area was affected by drought. That year had seen production of rice fall by 21.5 million tonnes, coarse cereals by 7 million tonnes, pulses by 2.2 million tonnes and wheat by 7 million tonnes.
As of yesterday since June 1, the overall rainfall deficiency is 29 per cent with 72 per cent of Met districts in the country — comprising more than 40 per cent of the geographical area — being rainfall deficient. The sowing of paddy this year is still lagging behind by 57 lakh hectares.
Officials in the Agriculture Ministry concede that rainfall in the next three to four weeks will be “absolutely critical” for the foodgrain production, not only for the ongoing kharif season but also for the coming rabi crops.
Of course, there is still one and a half months left in the monsoon season but the latest forecast gives little indication for hope. It suggests widespread rainfall activity in many parts of the country in the next three to four days. The Met department, which had predicted 101 per cent rains for August, now says there will be only 90 per cent rains this month. The outlook for September looks no better.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will also brief Chief Ministers of all states on Monday on steps to be taken on an urgent basis to ensure that the drought does not translate into a food crisis. The CMs are coming here for a meeting on internal security but considering the seriousness of the crisis on the monsoon front, a special session on drought has been inserted in the afternoon of the day-long meeting.
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar told reporters today that the first instalment of the central share of Calamities Relief Fund had been released to the states of Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur and UP to start immediate relief operations. He said a Central team would visit drought-affected areas next week to assess the loss.
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FOLKS,I DO NOT HAVE ANY SYMPATHY FOR ‘AAM AADMI’. AAM ADMI HAS VOTED FOR LOUSY CONGRESS GOVT; AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THAT THEY HAVE TO SUFFER. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT SUCCESSIVE CONGRESS GOVTS ARE MOST CORRUPT, INEFFICIENT AND INSENSITIVE TO THE PEOPLE OF INDIA (AAM AADMI). THEY WILL BRIBE THE AAM AADMI JUST BEFORE THE ELECTION AND WIN AGAIN; WHY SHOULD THEY WORK ON THE AMBITIOUS PROJECTS LIKE CONNECTING THE RIVERS? WHY SHOULD THEY GIVE ANY HEED TO THE FARMERS COMMITING SUICIDES? PRICES OF DAAL AND OTHER DAILY COMMODITIES ARE SKY ROCKETING. UNTILL NDTV, IBN LIVE, IE ETC ETC ARE COMPAIGING FOR CONGRESS; CONGRESS NEED NOT WORRY; THEY WILL WIN AGAIN AND RULE IN A SIMILAR FASHION.
Time to make big money for the corrupt. The bigger the calamity the fatter the packet. Who cares if the sufferers die hungry or of thirst.
Nehru once suggested linking the all the rivers by canals , Atal Behari vajpayee also said the same , unless we do something about the situation we can keep whining and achieve nothing, assam gets flooded every year , link the major rivers in assam thru a network of canals and aquaducts so that these flood waters can be transferred to dry areas like rajasthan, these network of canals can also help irrigation if there is a rainfall shortage , but no we will not do it, we will just keep whining
Whatever the credibility or authenticity of our weather forecasters, government's announcement of 'draught' is an open licence for traders, hoarders,and above all government oficials and ministers to loot public money to enrich themselves. This is what has always happened in the past- future will be no different. The only measure appears to be appoint 'commitees' and 'commissions' to bring out reports. It is time to take steps to protect the common man bu making food available easily at fair prices. Govt. has money to squander on ministers' comforts and security but not for the poor. Why not withdraw all security and use the savings on feeding the poor and subsidizing other slightly better off but certainly not rich enough? We are paying for scuttling Garlend canal plan and measures like rain harvesting--the Congress gift for 'aam aadmi'
Perhaps we will be the only nation to tolerate the co-existence of drought and floods. While the Govt is reeling out statistics about the scanty rainfall elsewhere in the country and flooding in Assam, it has not dawned on them that these threats should be converted into opportunities. Instead of committing billions of dollars on piling of nuclear stock, the Govt can go for borrowing much more to interlink all the rivers in this country so that whenever there is a flood in the rivers in North, the excess water can be diverted to dry areas. While pumping the water through the deserts is costly, generation of power is also possible when the same water falls down from the top to plains. This will give employment opportunities to lakhs of people, besides meeting our power requirements thro added generations in the process.
WE HAVE HAD MANY DROUGHTS IN INDIA. EVERY TIME THERE IS DROUGHT IMMEDIATE TEMPORARY MEASURES ARE ANNOUNCED AND BENEFITS ARE GIVEN TO SOME PEOPLE. HOWEVER, NO PARTY OR NO GOVT. HAS EVERY ANNOUNCED THAT DROUGHT NEEDS ANY LASTING SOLUTION. THERE ARE MANY MEASURES WHICH CAN BE TAKEN. RAIN HARVESTING, WATER CONSERVATION DURING GOOD RAIN YEARS ETC. BUT IT IS NOT IN THE INTEREST OF POLITICIANS TO ELIMINATE DROUGHT AS THEY MAKE MONEY DRUING THE DROUGHT YEARS. SHARAD PAWAR IS ONE OF THEM. I AM SURE HE IS SINGING ALL THE WAY TO THE SWISS BANK THIS YEAR.
Drought is a curse and is made all the more acute when Govt of the day fails to see it coming.It seems the UPA Govt sees things with a rose coloured glass .This probably explains their failure to see it beforehand.And now when full blown drought is staring at our face the UPA spin doctors are out to give a symptomatic treatment to this problem.The omen for drought like condition started appearing quite early but our Honourable Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar conviently condoned it and admitted only when the problem had got out of our hand. Drought or flood or any other disaster our response everytime is same.Systems in our country don’t run by design but by default.
India is the only country to measure its seasons by Rainfall. Rain is THE most important thing for us. Despite services being a major contributor to GDP, agriculture remains the backbone of India's economy. While 40% of the land is drought affected, Assam is flooded. 1 year floods while the next poses a drought-like situation. This repeats year after year. What we need is visionaries who stop thinking of next elections and focus on long term startegies to face such calamities and reduce our dependance on rainfall. We need to act on these recurring issues instead of wasting time erecting statues of ourselves or criticising TV shows during Parliament sessions. India deserves better and so do the VOTERS.
By j.p.choudhary In this era farmers are adoptig technology in farmig for more benifit such as farming system,crop rotation,mix farming etc.govt.wich can lead to front to fight this drought era.
India is the only country to measure its seasons by Rainfall. Rain is THE most important thing for us. Despite services being a major contributor to GDP, agriculture remains the backbone of India's economy. While 40% of the land is drought affected, Assam is flooded. 1 year floods while the next poses a drought-like situation. This repeats year after year. What we need is visionaries who stop thinking of next elections and focus on long term startegies to face such calamities and reduce our dependance on rainfall. We need to act on these recurring issues instead of wasting time erecting statues of ourselves or criticising TV shows during Parliament sessions. India deserves better and so do the VOTERS.
Good to read the reactive steps, hoping that farmers don't become an endangered species and avoid suicides etc...
Drought and other natural calamities are factored in our Planning Process. We have more experience than any other country on handling drought and food distribution, having started with food shortages and droughts since independence.But that gives no food minister power to allow prices of daal to go to Rs 100 a kg.It is no occasion to make unethical
Severe Drought situation in the country should not be taken lightly, a thorough analysis should be carried out to identify the cause. Obviously any educated and aware human being can tell its due to Global warming. It is good to see countries developing but it should not be at the cost of the nature. Conserve Nature and Conserve the planet earth and the rarest of species the human beings. Planting more trees and saving forest apart from conserving water and rain water harvesting, drip irrigation should solve most of the problems. And restoring the natural reservoirs, rivers will ultimately solve all the problems.
AS FAR AS MINISTERS LIKE SHARAD PAWAR AND HER DAUGHTER AND LIKE HAVE FULL MEALS , THREE TIMES A DAY AND LIVE IN A.C BUNGLOWS , WHY WORRY ABOUT HOW MANY FARMERS TAKE THEIR OWN LIVES . HELL WITH THEM . CAN ANY BODY ASK THE GOVERMENT WHY CONGRESS SCAPE THE PLAN TO LINK ALL RIVERS OF INDIA AS SUGGESTED BY SHREE ATAL BIHARI BAJPAEEJIS GOVERMENT ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?INDIA WILL ALWAYS SUFFER , AS FAR AS PEOPLE VOTE ANTONIA (sonia) AMD HER TWO SIBLINGS TO RUN THE COUNTRY . WAIT FOR CHINA AND PAKIS. TO ATTACK INIDA AND DIVIDE INTO 20 - 30 INDEPENDENT COUNTRIES . JAI HIND
BJP's proposal of river linkage was shot down by Congress. Even deficit ranfall can be harvested but Congress never had any policy for rural India except slogans like "aam admi". The danger now is that the corruption, food and fodder scams will flourish, poor "aam admi" will suffer. Just wait for more talks, more speeches and more slogans. Blame will be shifted on the states.
Sir,The Govt at the centre has now declared that this year as an year of draught.In the begining before commencement of monsoon our met dept said we are getting normal rain that too earlier than scheduled date.only to be revised periodically to say that the monsoon is week and weaker now it is draught.We can send a vehicle to the moon but can not predict earthly monsoon There is no effort by the govt to help the farmers in handling the unexpected devolopments of monsoon.Farmer has to meet the loss if the monsoon fails.When the prices of food grains go up the govt imports the food grains not realising that the farmer will take direct hit.There is no mechanism to compensate him .Nobody realises the agony of the farmer who has to feed the millions of the fellow citzens at an affordable price.What happens when he cannot afford his own food due to draught situation .Who is going to help him.and in what manner.I hope the group of ministers will address this issue also
Similar the NDAs brain child of Golden Q of connecting the metros by road, another Golden Qs of major water bodies should be thought off. Kerala, a long narrow strip of land gets abundant rain, but the water is never chanelled for productive use. It is high time to effectively utilise the good water potential of Kerala for irrigating vast land. Why scarcity of rainfall in India? Is the God angry ? May be he is too impressed the way we conducted LS elections or angry at the biased English speaking non-Desi media.
Declaring 2009 as a drought year is not enough.What is the government going to do to overcome the miseries of the poor people and fixed income group families. The prices of essential have already shot through the roof. The drought is only going to compound the miseries of the poor. Prices will go up incessantly anw will touch heights never seen before. The question is--DO our crorepati politicians and the so called sevants of the AAM AADMI have the will or the inclination to help the AAM AADMI. Like the Queen Marie of FRANCE at the time of the French Revolution--THEY WILL MOST LIKELY TELL US--IF YOU DO NOT GET BREAD EAT CAKE!!!!! ALL THE BEST TO THE AAM AADMI OF INDIA IN 2009!!!! Unfortunately, you are not in GOOD HANDS!!!!
Droughts have become a common feature. Hence a definite plan should be in place. With minor adjustments, we must be in apposition to make the plan operational quickly in a drought year. The plan should be for deficit rains, late rains, and also for excess rains causing floods. Contingency plans also should be place. An assemblage of drought tolerant varieties of crops for different regions, crop management technologies, input requirements and mechanism to mobilize critical inputs, rabi cropping plans when kharif fails, etc should be available easily to the decision makers. Last minute calling information from the sources may have to be avoided. On technology development front, we have a tendency to switch on and off the work depending on whether we a drought or not. This should be avoided. This is the time put our farm technology to practice
Through the drought effect, UPA will have benefit from every aspect in regards to fund raising/distributing among each other for the ensuing elections. So that all of a sudden, a Group of Ministers have been vested with power in the pretext of to tackle the situation. The past experience, under such situation, is self-explanatory and evident.
Now as the drought has been declared the Govt has to gear up to face the challange of food and fodder security. India with second most populous and having world's largest cattle population will face the big challange to meet the requirement and to increase farm production. Over the years much has not been done on rain harvesting or ground water recharging, most of the rain water goes back to the sea and atmosphere. India is blessed with icy Himalayas which feed the preneial rivers. There was a project of river linking and now in limbo. The investment in irrigation projects and rain water harvesting thuough check dams and ponds will definetly lower the demand of water needed other than drinking. The flagship schemes like NREGA and Haryali need to be monitored to check the leakages and implemented in true letter an spirit. The investment of minor and major irrigation projcets has to be increased and drought resistant seeds instead of hybrids are to be developed with new technologies.
Pm/PMO shall monitor all teh money given reaches to the farmer and affected and not on paper, we know who are in charge like Sharad Pawar, Mayawati Chavan etc....,We atlaest are sure Bihar funds-are in safe hands. Also IE shall daily post news about drought like it did for mumbai/riots etc....
PLS DROP THE IDEA OF COMMONWEALTH GAME AND DIVERT ALL THOSE FUND TO FIGHT AGAINST THIS DIRTY DRAUGHT AND LET'S SHOW THE WORLD THAT WE CAN WIN EVERY WORSE SITUATIONS
IT IS THE TIME WHEN THE ACTUAL WORK OF COMMON PEOPLE, GOVT MACHINERY, POLITICAL WILL POWER AND SUPPORT FROM THE ALL SECTOR OF SOCIETY SPECIALLY FROM BUSINESS COMMUNITY, COME TO THE WORK. COMMON PEOPLE AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAVE SUPPORTED A LOT DURING ORISSA CYCLONE OR KASHMIR EARTH QUAKE OR LATU PLAGUE. IT IS TIME TO GET UNITE AGAING FOR OUR MOTHER INDIA AND FET THE ANARMOUS SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF FOOD, MONEY, CLOTH ETC FROM ALL OF THEM.IT IS GOVT WHICH CAN LEAD TO FRONTH TO FIGHT THIS DRAUGHT, INDIA HAS ALREADY SUFFERED A LOT FROM THE EARLIER DRAUGHTS AND FLOODS.GOVT, PLS COME FORWARD TO GET THE HELP FROM ALL OF US.