Concerned over prediction of a deficient monsoon this kharif, the Centre on Friday expressed its readiness to give subsidy on diesel, power and seeds to farmers in affected areas.
Even as monsoon set over Kerala, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh convened a meeting with top officials of ministries concerned to review the government’s preparedness.
“We will offer diesel, seeds and power subsidy to States like last year to tide over monsoon deficiency,’’ the Minister said later. The meeting was attended by Minister of State Sanjeev Baliyan and officers from the India Meteorological Department and from the departments of agriculture, food, dairying, power, fertilizer, water resources and rural development.
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He said the government was ready with a contingency plan for 580 districts in 25 States. Plans are afoot for 30 vulnerable districts in the north-east based on the experience last year when kharif production was hit by about nine million tonnes owing to deficient monsoon.
The ministry has been holding review meetings with states that have been affected by below par rainfall.