Parts of Maharashtra may face drought-like situation: Radha Mohan Singh

As southwest monsoon enters the crucial month of Union July, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Tuesday said some parts of western India, particularly Maharashtra, might face a drought-like situation this year, and the government is fully prepared to meet any eventuality.

Singh told reporters after a meeting with a delegation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders from Maharashtra that the government is working out a contingency plan exclusively for Vidarbha, which witnessed a spate of farmer suicides in the past. The plan will ensure there is no shortage of drinking water or fodder in the area, Singh said.

"We will also think of other possible measures to protect the farmers so that they do not commit suicide," Singh said. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), in Maharashtra, June 1-25 rainfall in the Vidarbha region was around 55 per cent less than normal, while it was around 75 per cent less normal in Marathwada and 61 per cent less than normal in Madhya Maharashtra. The minister said the monsoon is delayed by a week, but the situation is not worrisome. It would be difficult if the delay goes up to 10 days or more. If it rains well in July, it will make up for the one-week delay, he said, adding IMD, the official weather forecaster, has informed him that monsoon would improve after July 6.

June 2014 was one of the driest months in 100 years. According to IMD, rain in June was 43 per cent below normal - the lowest since 2009 and among the weakest since 1901.

On rising onion prices, Singh said India has enough supplies. However, the distribution system needs to improve, he added. For this purpose, Singh will meet state officials on July 4. He also said the agriculture ministry will soon move a Cabinet note on providing diesel and seed subsidy if states declare drought in some areas.

The delegation-led by Maharashtra BJP President Devendra Fadanvis updated the minister about the monsoon situation in the Vidarbha region and sought special measures to tackle the possible drought this year.

The overall area under kharif crops last week decreased to 131.52 lakh hectares from 200.96 lakh hectares in the year-ago period. Sowing of kharif (summer) crops, including paddy, starts with the onset of the southwest monsoon in June.

Later, in an official statement, Singh said he assured the delegation that "the Centre will look into the problems of Maharashtra farmers, especially to deal with any low-rainfall situation."

The minister said many parts of Maharashtra are prone to low rainfall and drought and he has been informed the water level in reservoirs is also going down. "The agriculture ministry is, therefore, closely monitoring the progress of monsoon, especially over dryland areas," Singh said.

While assuring the delegation he would consider their demands, Singh said the Centre will create research and development infrastructure to support long-term growth of agriculture in the state.

The delegation sought establishment of a central agricultural university in areas where there are more instances of farmers suicides and a second Krishi Vigyan Kendra in bigger districts such as Sangli, Jalgoan, Yavatmal, Nagpur and Jalna.

They also demanded that the Indian Council of Agricultural Research set up institutes on diary farming, soil and water testing, integrated pest management and horticulture.