Question : Impact of Monsoon on Agriculture

(a) whether the Indian Meteorological Department has predicted weak/deficient monsoon in the country during the current year;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor indicating the impact of El Nino and global warming/climate change on the monsoon;

(c) whether the impact of weak/deficient rainfall on the production of various crops has been or being assessed, and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has prepared any contingency plan to meet the situation arising out of weak and deficient monsoon and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the details of financial and technical assistance including water stressed/drought resistant seeds likely to be provided to the farmers to overcome the situation in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

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(a) & (b): India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its 2nd stage Long Range Forecast for 2015 South-West Monsoon released on 2nd June, 2015 has predicted
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the season rainfall for the country as a whole is likely to be 88 + 4% of Long Period Average (LPA). Forecast also indicates that El Nino conditions are likely to persist during the South-West Monsoon.

(c) to (e): IMD has predicted deficit monsoon in 2015. However, rainfall in June, 2015 has been normal. During the period from 01.06.2015 to 15.07.2015, country as a whole received rainfall of 280.8 mm against normal rainfall of 298.9 mm with a departure of (-)6%.

Central Research Institute of Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), ICAR has developed agriculture contingency plan in collaboration with State Agricultural Universities in 580 districts for implementing location specific interventions to sustain agriculture production in the eventuality of weak monsoon/deficient rainfall.

States have been advised to ensure availability of appropriate low water consumption seeds and ensure meeting any contingency cropping requirement in the eventuality of deficient rainfall. 10% of funds available under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) have also been kept aside for undertaking appropriate interventions to mitigate drought like situation, if any, arising out of deficient rainfall. Appropriate drought mitigation measures viz. Construction of water harvesting structure under MGNREGA; promotion of agronomic practices for moisture conservation; promoting cultivation of less water consuming crops; restoration of irrigation infrastructure by de-silting canals; energizing tubewells, replacing/repairing faulty pumps etc. are being initiated by States to deal with any potential drought situation.


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