Drought to hit coarse cereals, pulses, oilseeds output: Pawar

Despite a marked improvement in the southwest monsoon, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said production of coarse cereals, pulses, oilseeds and rice, to some extent, would be less than last year.

For sugar, the cane area is more. But, Pawar said, some drop in production can be expected as farmers in Karnataka and Maharashtra have diverted a sizeable portion of standing crop towards fodder.

Announcing the second relief package for drought-hit areas, Pawar said rainfall situation had improved in four out of five drought-affected districts of Rajasthan, six out of 26 in Karnataka and 11 out of 25 in Maharashtra because of recent rains. But it was not satisfactory in other parts.

He said the government must expedite the release of funds under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme in drought-hit states of Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana and Punjab to mitigate the plight of farmers. Around Rs 846 crore would be immediately released to the states to solve their drinking water problem.

To tide over the acute scarcity of fodder, the government would assists states in setting up fodder banks, fodder blocks manufacturing units and feed concentrates by enhancing its share of contribution. It will also provide assistance for feed supplements for goats and sheep and extend the time period for availing seed subsidy, the minister said. “An extra Rs 100 crore has been sanctioned under the Accelerated Fodder Development Programme.”

He also reiterated that the empowered group of ministers (eGoM), which met yesterday, has decided to lower the interest on rescheduled crop loans from 12 per cent to seven per cent and extended the workdays under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to 150 days from 100 days in drought-hit areas.

“For horticulture crops, loans will be given to farmers with an interest subvention, which will shared equally between the Centre and states,” Pawar said. The government will provide an assistance of Rs 650.57 crore in flood-affected districts of Northeast India, he added.