Govt reviewing situation to announce drought in state
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 14 2012:
With the elusive seasonal monsoon rains dampening the spirit of the farmers in the state with most of their paddy fields remaining dry, the state government is reviewing the situation and will take a decision whether to announce drought or not on July 16, Agriculture Minister Abdul Nasir told reporters here today.
The Minister said that officials are assessing the situation in all the districts.
Since the government has already set July 15 deadline for completing the assessment, the report would be ready by the morning of July 16 and the state cabinet would discuss it.
He further said that people should not panic as the situation is not that grave.
The Agriculture Department is ready to face drought and water pumps would be distributed to farmers within five days.
Moreover, hybrid rice seeds, which can be harvested within short period, would be made available to the farmers.
The Minister informed that the Government has chalked out many action plans to assist the farmers in irrigating their fields and assured that he himself would see what could be done in fields where irrigation remains a problem.
On the other hand, a report from the Indian Meteorological Department has suggested that the amount of rainfall to be received during the rainy season this year would be normal even though rains may come a bit late.
The rainfall received so far is 25 percent lesser than normal, the report added.
Mention may be made here that Japan had predicted lesser monsoon rainfall for India this season.
Meanwhile, many vast tracts of agricultural fields in Thoubal, Bishnupur, Imphal East and Imphal West remain dry due to want of water.