The correlation between bad monsoons and farm output may be a direct one, but there is also a link with Krishi Bhavan, headquarters of the agriculture ministry. During the last big drought that India faced in 2009 – the worst in three decades – P K Basu, then an additional secretary in the ministry, headed a crucial panel on drought management. His work on managing the drought played a big role in pulling agricultural growth into positive territory that year. Basu was soon elevated to the rank of agriculture secretary and occupied the post until he retired last month. Now, the new agriculture secretary Ashish Bahuguna has taken charge of the ministry just as the clouds of drought are hovering over the country. Naturally, everyone is wondering whether the new incumbent can follow his predecessor’s achievements.
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