Drought conditions loom over south Karnataka and central Maharashtra adding to concern at the severely deficient southwest monsoon in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat.
These States have been advised to go for early rabi (winter) plantation to make up for the shortfall in kharif sowing. Much will depend on the progress of the monsoon in the last week of July.
With an average 40 per cent deficiency in monsoon rain in the northwest so far, farmers in paddy-growing Punjab and Haryana are stressed due to the higher cost of cultivation. As water levels in the Pong and Bhakra dams are below normal, farmers in these States are using excessive power and diesel to draw groundwater to save kharif paddy.
Alarmed at the situation, the Centre on Saturday convened a meeting of the affected States, including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat. What triggered the move was the grim situation. Two-thirds of the kharif sowing period are already over.
Now only late varieties or short-duration crops or fodder can be sowed to save farmers in the affected States. What hits them most is that the credit/loan they take for normal sowing cannot be returned if they fail to sow. If they go for renewed sowing of contingency crops, they will have to seek a fresh loan.
Agriculture Secretary Ashish Bahuguna, who convened the meeting with the Principal Secretaries of the six States on a non-working day, said he reviewed the situation with the States that faced “contingency.” The situation is worst in Karnataka, where sowing of coarse cereals, pulses and oilseeds has been hit. The monsoon has bypassed large tracts of the State where these crops are raised. Kharif sowing is short by 10 lakh hectares, mostly in coarse cereals and groundnut, in the State.
In the Pune-Sholapur-Sangli-Satara belt of Maharashtra, rainfall deficiency has severely hit the sowing of pulses and coarse cereals. About 8.5 lakh hectares remained unsown. These districts have been advised to go for early rabi sowing of guar, gram and maize to make up for the shortfall.
In Rajasthan, monsoon has been delayed in the western districts and jowar and bajra sowing on nearly 15 lakh hectares has been affected.
While climate change can be the cause of this; this maybe God's way of punishing the
crooked politicians who do not govern properly but just hanker for power. In both these
states corruption and indecision have been prominent and for the believers in Hindutva this
could be God's way of pulling them up.
It's time we integrate all rivers in India. As the village population is moving to Urban areas it's
time we restrict the irrigated lands to current levels, use mechanized agricultural practices,
deepen and protect existing tanks, lakes and ponds, grow 10 trees for every try removed,
move trees rather than cutting down completely. Use technology to protect the environment.
If there is drought in some of the South western states like Karnataka and Maharastra
shouldn't we treat Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh as drought hit as well? Most of the major
rivers like Cauvery and Krishna are east flowing and irrigates and provides drinking water to
these states.
Because of the destruction of the most precious western ghats.The
politician and the business man destroying the ghats which leads to
climate change and deficiency in rainfall.This effects on the south
west monsoon and the leads to reduction of food production
initially.Later the field will be dry and sold to real estate
people.The illegal mines in Karnataka,Goa & Maharashtra should be
stopped to prevent the spoiling of back bone of Indian economy. The
mining is not useful for India by destroying the ghats.the Western
Ghats close to became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The Western Ghats
are a biological hotspot harbouring 60 Important Bird Areas (IBA), 325
globally threatened species, many endemic species and sacred groves
across six states. The area of 150,000 km2 boasts a varied ecosystem
with a historical Gondwanaland origin and significant global value.
However they are also under threat of increased developmental pressure
and mining which are exported to abroad especially to china
The agriculture is linked to the industry and this has very important
contribution to the Indian agriculture. Now where we lack is that u
have specialists to run the industry and maintain its output but here u
don't have any specialist but experienced farmers who are farming but
only a few of them is able to make it an industry. If we want not to be
in the vagaries of Moonsoon then we have to put the expertise in the
agriculture as well.
Unless we do the same the same thing will be repeating again and again
as we can't have double standard for agriculture. If we are making it
industry, it should be done like an industry!!!
Yes, mechanism has to be found out...
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