Monsoon not a worry yet, but govt readies plan

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday decided to present a stiff upper lip, after a priority meeting of state agriculture secretaries on the grim monsoon situation, even while firing on all cylinders to tackle every eventuality, including stock-taking on funds and availability of crucial inputs such as specialised seeds and fertilisers.

Refusing to come up with a figure on the possible production shortfall till now on account of poor June monsoons (45% deficiency), farm secretary Nanda Kumar told the media that although the window for sowing key kharif crops normally peaked around June 25-30, there was still ample time to make up on it in July and August.

Referring to the Met department���s forecast of normal July and August rainfall in the southern and central regions, he said, ���Kharif sowing in the south and central states starts with the onset of monsoons. The peak period for sowing in these states is from the last week of June up to July 15.���

At the review meeting of key states where the monsoon has so far been deficient or poor, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are understood to have said they have received good rains and kharif crop sowing is in full swing. Sowing of kharif crops such as paddy, soyabean, groundnut, cotton, sugarcane, arhar, moong and urad have also started in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa and Bihar, he said. However, although area under both paddy and cotton has increased compared to last year, area under sugarcane has come down by one lakh hectares.

However, contingency plans reviewed for individual states in the western, central and southern regions are for ���Plan A and not Plan B���, the secretary said, adding, ���There is no shortage of funds should the eventuality arise.��� Plan A involves detailed district-tailored stock-taking on crucial kharif crop inputs by states while Plan B would indicate implementing contingency plans on the ground with immediate effect on the reading that agricultural productivity would be impacted adversely.