Agriculture minister sees higher farm output on better rains

Agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh on Wednesday said the forecast of good monsoon has raised hopes of higher farm production this year.

"We hope that production will be good this year as it will come after two back-to-back droughts," Singh said.

Earlier, agriculture secretary Shobhana K Pattanayak said the government hopes that kharif sowing will be on in full swing. "The government expects good distribution of rainfall and will keep close watch on the situation in August and September, when there is possibility of slightly more rain as projected by the Met department," Pattanayak said.

He said IMD's forecast is a welcome development because of short rainfall in the past two years. "Ten states are having drought-like condition so the prediction of normal monsoon is very good news for farmers because our kharif sowing will go on in full swing," the secretary said at a seminar.

On its first seasonal forecast for 2016, India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday said the monsoon was expected to be "above normal" at 106 per cent of the long period average (LPA).

Southwest monsoon is a lifeline for millions of farmers across the country and its even distribution is as critical as total rainfall. The Director General of IMD, L S Rathore said, there could be possibility of excess rains in some parts, but its prediction is difficult as of now.

On drought and drinking water crisis in many states, Radha Mohan Singh said the ministry of drinking water and sanitation has released over Rs 2,300 crore to the affected states. Another Rs 820 crore would be allocated soon.

"I hope that now states would also contribute their share of the funds as Centre's allocation is just 50 per cent of the total fund," Singh said.

On the claims that indiscriminate sugarcane cultivation in Marathwada and Vidarbha has led to the water crisis in the region, the agriculture minister said instead of altering the crop cycle, there is a need to introduce drought and flood resistant seed varieties, which the government is doing.