(a) the details of Kharif crops produced during each of the last three years, crop-wise;
(b) whether shortfall in rains is likely to affect the Kharif crops production and food security this year;
(c) if so, the assessment made by the Government in this regard;
(d) whether the Government proposes to declare this dry spell as drought;
(e) if so, the details thereof; and
(f) the steps taken by the Government to tackle the problem?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a): The production of Kharif crops in the country during the last three years is
given in the Annexure.
(b) & (c): The impact of shortfall in rains on production of kharif crops in different
states will depend on the extent of deficiency in rainfall in the respective States. Presently,
delay of one to two weeks in arrival of monsoon in certain states such as Maharashtra,
Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, East Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, East Uttar Pradesh has been
observed, leading to some delay in sowing of Rice, Groundnut, Soyabean in these states.
However, with the revival of monsoon in various parts of the country, sowing operations have
gained momentum and no major shift in crop sowing and production pattern is expected.
The present stocks of food-grains available in the Central Pool are sufficient to meet the
demand of food-grains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and other Welfare Schemes
at present level of allocations during the current year.
(d) & (e): Declaration of drought is made by the respective State Governments taking
into account various factors like rainfall deficiency, status of sowing operations, estimate
on damage to crops etc. As reported by IMD, during current South-West Monsoon, upto 08-07-2009,
the country as a whole received 151 mm of rainfall against normal rainfall of 234.7 mm, with
a deviation of (-)36%. During 2009-10, the Government of Manipur has declared all the districts
in the State as drought affected. The Government of Jharkhand has declared 4 districts as
drought affected.
(f): It is primarily the responsibility of the State Government concerned to take necessary
measures in the wake of natural calamities including drought. The Government of India supplements
the efforts of the affected States with financial and logistic support. Funds are readily available
with the State Government under the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) for taking necessary measures in
the wake of natural calamities. Additional assistance, over and above the CRF, is considered from
the National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF) for natural calamities of severe nature where the
funds available in the CRF of the State are not adequate to tackle the situation and on submission
of a memorandum for Central assistance by the affected State.