Centre identifies 100 districts to help farmers cope with extreme weather conditions

NEW DELHI: Amid growing fears of the El Niño weather phenomenon occurring this year, agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh has said that the government has identified 100 districts in the country to help farmers who are grappling with extreme weather conditions such as drought and declining water table.

“The Indian Council for Agriculture Research has taken a national initiative on climate resilience and has identified 100 districts in the country which are facing extreme weather conditions. Resilient varieties of crops, equipments and machinery through custom hiring service are being provided to the farmers,” the minister said on Friday.

Global forecasters have pegged the probability of El Niño striking this year to 70%. The phenomenon associated with warming of the sea water in equatorial Pacific is believed to have adversely affected monsoon rains in India in the past and caused droughts in 2002, 2004 and 2009.

In addition to crop production, dairy, fishery and forestry are being included, Singh said, adding that the identified districts have already prepared their plan under the scheme.

In 2014, an El Niño year, India suffered a 12% deficit in rainfall, the worst in five years, shrinking the area of crop plantation and depleting reservoirs. Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh saw the maximum rainfall deficit.

The minister said that deficit rain followed by unseasonal rains is a concern for the government, which will address the issue of climate change in agriculture under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture.

“The mission seeks to address issues associated with climate change by devising appropriate adaptation and mitigation strategies for ensuring food security, enhancing livelihood opportunities and contributing to economic stability at the national level,” Singh said.

Untimely rains in March and April have led to crop damage over 8.5 million hectares of land as per ministry figures. In view of the damage to onion and potato crops, the minister said that he has written to all states, including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal, where there is a likelihood of increase in prices, to purchase and maintain stocks of the commodities.

“Under Market Intervention Scheme, agriculture ministry has written to West Bengal, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh to make assessment of damaged crops of onion and potato and send proposals as per guidelines,” the minister said.