(a) the details and salient features of the National Agricultural Drought Assessment and Monitoring System (NADAMS) being undertaken by the Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre;
(b) the details of the States which are covered by the Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre under NADAMS as well as the criteria for coverage;
(c) whether the Government is considering to cover other States including Telangana under the system; and
(d) if so, the details thereof ?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
???? ??? ????? ?????? ½ãâ¨ããè (SHRI RADHA MOHAN SINGH)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 229 DUE FOR REPLY ON 15TH DECEMBER, 2015.
(a): Under NADAMS Project, periodic assessment & district/sub-district level agricultural drought is carried out using various types of data i.e multi resolution/multi sensor satellite based remote sensing data, district/sub- district level rainfall data, crop sowing information from States, district level irrigation statistics, estimated soil moisture etc.
The methodology of NADAMS project essentially reflects the integration of satellite derived crop condition /surface wetness indices, integrated with rainfall and crop area progression to evolve decision rules on the prevalence, intensity and persistence of agricultural drought situation.
The various indices/inputs used for agricultural drought assessment are: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Wetness Index (NDWI), Shortwave Angle Slope Index (SASI),Vegetation condition Index (VCI), Soil Moisture Index (derived from soil water balance approach), Rainfall data(rainfall deviation).
The Monitoring of agricultural drought under NADAMS project is carried out on monthly/fortnightly basis for the kharif season (June-October). During June-August drought warning (alert, watch and normal) and during September-October drought conditions (normal, mild, moderate & severe) are given.
(b): Currently 14 States are covered under NADAMS. These are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh. In these States district level agricultural drought assessment is carried out. At present sub-district level assessment is carried out in only 5 States namely Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana.
The States selected under this project are based on twin criteria of agriculturally important and vulnerability to drought.
(c) & (d): Telangana is already covered in NADAMS Project.
*****