The Hindu : Rainfall revives sowing

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 13, 2002

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National

Rainfall revives sowing

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi Aug.12. The current spell of monsoon rain may be too little too late as 11 States have sought Central assistance of nearly Rs. 20,000 crores from the National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF) to mitigate the damage from drought.

The renewed rainfall has revived sowing of coarse cereals, oilseeds and pulses in some of the drought-affected States. However, parts of Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab, remain parched, according to Agriculture Ministry sources. Rainfall is 29 per cent deficient and the water level in major reservoirs is 47 per cent of last year.

The Ministry of Agriculture has decided to wait for 10 days before despatching Central teams to assess the extent of crop damage in States, even as the Indian Meteorological Department has predicted ``intense rainfall'' after August 14.

Speaking to mediapersons here today after chairing a meeting of the Crop and Weather Watch Group, the Special Secretary in the Agriculture Ministry, Hemendra Kumar, said there might be some reassessment of the damage but the States will have to do it themselves.

From the NCCF, Rajasthan has sought Rs. 6115 crores, Uttar Pradesh Rs. 5601.50 crores, Chhattisgarh Rs. 2193.96 crores, Maharashtra Rs. 1730.61 crores, Andhra Pradesh Rs. 810.9 crores, Tamil Nadu Rs. 720 crores, Madhya Pradesh Rs. 698.62 crores, Karnataka Rs. 553.52 crores, Orissa Rs. 500.61 crores, Uttaranchal Rs. 401.81 crores and Jharkhand Rs. 226 crores. Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and West Bengal have sent memoranda but have not specified the quantum of assistance required from the Centre.

Mr. Singh said the damage that occurred due to lack of July rains could not be made up by late monsoon showers, although the August rains have eased the fodder and drinking water problem to some extent. Sowing of paddy has also picked up in Chhattisgarh.

There might be loss of area coverage under bajra (millet) in Rajasthan and Haryana. Sowing of maize has suffered in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Sowing of soyabean has picked up in Madhya Pradesh, while that of kharif pulses is progressing slowly and may pick up even with delayed rains.

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