Agriculture min says govt is prepared to tackle any situation arising out of poor monsoon

Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh has reaffirmed government's seriousness in tackling any situation arising out of poor monsoon rains as forecast by the Indian Meteorological Department.

In an official release, the Minister said that States have been suitably advised and sufficient food stocks are in place.

Contingency plans are already in place, States have been suitably advised, sufficient foodstocks are in place, and quick action will be taken to tackle any situation arising out of deficient monsoon, he added.

Singh said that his Ministry has introduced Diesel Subsidy Scheme for providing protective irrigation to standing crops in the rainfall deficit areas.

He also said that additional grants will be allocated under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture for drought mitigation measures.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued long-range update for monsoon, according to which the country is likely to receive 93 percent of the long period average rainfall.