Nat'l conference on evolving kharif sowing strategy next week

Faced with less soil moisture following two consecutive drought years, the Centre has called a national-level conference next week to chalk out a strategy for sowing of summer crops like rice and discuss ways to integrate allied farm activities to boost income of farmers.
The two-day national conference starting April 11 assumes importance in view of the recent crop damages on account of moisture stress due to deficit rains, said an official release issued by the Agriculture Ministry.
There was 14 per cent deficit in southwest monsoon rains during the 2015-16 crop year (July-June). The rabi season of the same year had less post monsoon and winter rains, resulting in low level of soil moisture, it said.

"A strategy needs to be evolved for the coming Kharif season in view of the above," the ministry said.
The strategy to be formulated for kharif crops this year is "crucial" in the backdrop of the government's announcement to double farmers' income in the next six years.
In order to address the issues related to agriculture and allied sectors in a more comprehensive manner, an integrated approach to farming is required to be adopted.

Keeping this in mind, the ministry for the first time has invited secretaries and senior officers from the four main domains of the Department of Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Dairy and Credit, Cooperation and Marketing from all the States and Union Territories to participate in the conference, the release added.

There would be 13 technical group discussion sessions under the four main domains. The recommendations of each of these domains will be finalised on the second day of the conference and presented to the agriculture minister.
Senior officers of various ministries like fertiliser, water resources, land resources and research institutes, NABARD, autonomous bodies like NAFED will be participating.