New Delhi: The government today announced it will offer subsidy on diesel, power and seeds to farmers in case of deficient monsoon affecting crops.
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today held a meeting with senior officials of India Meteorological Department (IMD), which earlier in the week had revised monsoon forecast to "deficient", triggering drought fears.
Officials from power, water resource, rural development, food and fertiliser ministries, among others were also present in the meet.
"We will offer subsidy on diesel, power and seeds to farmers like last year to deal with drought-like-situation," Mr Singh said after the meeting.
The minister said the government is fully prepared to face drought-like situation. A nodal officer has been appointed in every department to deal with deficient monsoon situation.
According to sources, the Centre may continue Rs 10 per litre diesel subsidy this year as well.
The subsidy on seeds could be up to 50 per cent under different schemes, they added. Similarly, free power could be given to farmers for irrigation.
Earlier this week, Dr Singh had said that the Centre is ready with contingency plans for 580 districts and is in touch with States and farm research bodies to tackle the situation.
A new crop insurance policy will be brought in this year to protect farmers' income. The Centre will import pulses to improve domestic supplies and check rising pulses prices.
On June 2, the Met Department revised its forecast from 93 per cent to 88 per cent Long Period Average (LPA), with north-west region of the country expected to be hit the most.
Last year, the country had received 12 per cent less rains, which hit production of grains, cotton and oilseeds.
Growth of agriculture and allied sectors stood at mere 0.2 per cent in the 2014-15 fiscal.
Foodgrains production declined to 251.12 million tonnes in the 2014-15 crop year (July-June) from a record production of 265.04 million tonnes in the previous year.
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today held a meeting with senior officials of India Meteorological Department (IMD), which earlier in the week had revised monsoon forecast to "deficient", triggering drought fears.
Officials from power, water resource, rural development, food and fertiliser ministries, among others were also present in the meet.
The minister said the government is fully prepared to face drought-like situation. A nodal officer has been appointed in every department to deal with deficient monsoon situation.
Advertisement
The subsidy on seeds could be up to 50 per cent under different schemes, they added. Similarly, free power could be given to farmers for irrigation.
Advertisement
A new crop insurance policy will be brought in this year to protect farmers' income. The Centre will import pulses to improve domestic supplies and check rising pulses prices.
Advertisement
Last year, the country had received 12 per cent less rains, which hit production of grains, cotton and oilseeds.
Advertisement
Foodgrains production declined to 251.12 million tonnes in the 2014-15 crop year (July-June) from a record production of 265.04 million tonnes in the previous year.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Red Alert Issued For Kerala's Wayanad Amid Heavy Rain Forecast India Records Warmest June Since 1901, Says Weather Office Weather Office Predicts Heavy Rains In Delhi For Next Two Days Over 300 Indian Students Return Home As 105 Bangladeshis Killed In Protests "Jindal Group Executive Showed Porn, Groped Me On Flight": Woman To NDTV Massive Worldwide Microsoft Outage: Flights, Markets, Stock Exchange Down Bangladesh Imposes Curfew, Deploys Military As 105 Die In Protests Tesla Halted Some Production Lines Due To Global IT Outage: Report SpiceJet Says Services Up Again After "Resolution" Of Microsoft Outage Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.