Centre assures support to farmers battling drought, floods amid climate change

Nagpur, The Centre will provide all possible support to farmers reeling from drought and floods in various states, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said, noting that the country is witnessing adverse effects of climate change.

Contingency plans had been prepared and shared with states to guide farmers on suitable crops to grow in a shorter time during low rainfall, with seed banks and alternative arrangements in place, along with advisories issued to state governments, Chouhan told PTI Videos in Nagpur on Saturday.

The Maharashtra government has declared drought in 74 per cent of the state.


Also read: Climate disasters are growing. So are cuts to programs that prepare for them

Chouhan said his ministry was in constant touch with the Maharashtra government over the drought situation. He said contingency plans for the affected districts were ready.

"We will provide every possible support to the farmers in coordination with the state government," he said.

While some states in the country were dealing with floods, others have drought, the minister noted, adding, "We are witnessing adverse effects of climate change and we have to deal with them."

"We are doing two kinds of things. First, for areas facing drought, our institutes like ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) and other institutions concerned have prepared contingency plans for each district. We have shared those with the state governments and informed the districts. If rainfall is low, the plans tell farmers which crops can be grown in a shorter time, which crops require less water, and what measures should be taken," Chouhan said.

Also read: As Bappa bids Mumbai goodbye, a new product cycle begins

The ministry has also set up seed banks, he said. "If one crop fails, we have prepared alternatives for the next crop and made interim arrangements. We have also issued advisories to state governments," he said.

As to the flood-affected areas, he said farmers need not worry. "The situation is serious, but we will get through it," he added.