Rajasthan farmers face the music of weather God

TONK: Ram Kishore Saini is a worried man. Both the summer-savers that would irrigate his 10-acre land have done him in. The water table has receded from 250 ft to 450 ft in last one year. And the deficient monsoon is making the things worse for him. With the lack of irrigation facilities, the Bajra crop spread across his land is waiting the much-needed second round of water splashes. The only thing, which can save his dying crops, is the rains, which are playing truant. This is not a standalone case in Rajasthan. Most of the farmers are facing this situation.

Weak monsoon coupled with receding water table is likely to trigger threats of drought in the region. According to a met department, as against the average normal rainfall of 294.90 mm during June 1-August 6, the state has received only 214.10 mm of rainfall. ���This year out of 33 districts, 21 districts have received deficit rainfall while 2 districts have observed scanty rainfall receiving rainfall 60% below normal. Only 2 districts ��� Udaipur and Pratapgarh have received excess rainfall while 8 districts fall in the range of normal rainfall,��� the official said.

As against six districts that received less rainfall in 2008, this time 21 districts fall in the category of drought or water scarcity zones. "If the second phase of monsoon remains inactive, the situation of famine can emerge," an agricultural department official said.

Citing the situation alarming, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot has ordered to complete the Girdawari in the state within 15 days. ���We have asked the ministers and officials of departments like Famine & Relief, Power, PHED, Food & Supply and Agriculture to chalk out contingency plans. We have asked them to improve the public distribution system. We will deal black marketing with iron hand,��� he said.

He said that the state government would alert the farmers timely and ensure the supply of fooder in this grim situation. ���Last time when the state had faced draught conditions, we had made the arrangement of fodder from neighbouring states. Now the states like Haryana are also facing the similar crisis. We have to think on alternatives to ensure the supply,��� he said.

Mr Gehlot said that the government would do every bit for the uninterrupted power supply for the farmers. ���We would buy additional power if need be,��� he said.