Lok Sabha Question No. 1600 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-02
Subject: Delayed Monsoon
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Sisir Kumar Adhikari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1600 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND  JULY, 2019

## DELAYED MONSOON

1600.   SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the delayed monsoon in the country during this year;
- (b) if so, whether it is a fact that different areas are facing drought due to continuous high temperatures;
- (c) if so, the action taken by the Government to tackle the poor agriculture forecast and the situation which has arisen therein; and
- (d) the  action  taken  by  the  Government  towards  farmers  welfare  in  such  miserable conditions?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (d): Yes Sir, there was some delay in arrival of Monsoon this year. However, as per  the  second  Long  Range  forecast  released  by  India  Meteorological  Department  (IMD) rainfall during the monsoon season 2019 over the country as a whole is likely to be normal. The proper distribution of rainfall is more important for normal crop production. Therefore, it is too early to determine the drought like situation in any areas from agriculture point of view. Till date, no State  Government  has  submitted  any  Memorandum  seeking  financial assistance from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) during Kharif, 2019 season.

India  Meteorological  Department  (IMD)  runs  an  operational  Agrometeorological Advisory Service (AAS) viz., Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme for the benefit of farming community in the country. Under the scheme, medium range weather forecast at district  level  is  generated  and  issued  and  based  on  the  forecast,  Agromet  Advisories  are prepared  and  communicated  by  the  Agromet  Field  Units  (AMFUs)  located  at  State Agricultural Universities, institutes of ICAR and IIT etc.

Keeping the need for Agromet Advisory Services (AAS) to be more crop and locationspecific and to be extended to all farming households in the country into consideration, the network of GKMS scheme is being extended to district level by establishing additional 530 District  Agromet  Units  (DAMUs)  in  the  premise  of  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVK)  in collaboration  with  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR).  District  Agromet  Units (DAMUs) are being established in KVKs under ICAR network in a phasewise manner for rendering block level AAS.

ICAR-Central  Research  Institute  of  Dryland  Agriculture  (CRIDA)  Hyderabad  in collaboration with State Agriculture Universities has prepared crop contingency plan for 648 districts  in  the  country  to  sustain  agriculture  production  in  the  eventually  of  any  sudden change in weather. Besides, inter Departmental meetings are held every week to monitor rainfall situation, sowing of crops and status of water storage and inputs availability.  Weekly video conference with all States and UTs is also held to review and monitor the progress of area coverage, rainfall situation, crops condition and issuing advisory to the States as and when required.  There is also system to send weather based advisory to registered farmers by SMS through m-kisan portal apart from information through DD Kisan.

In  the  eventuality  of  drought  and  other  natural  calamities,  State  Governments  are empowered  to  initiate  necessary  relief  measures  from  State  Disaster  Response  Fund (SDRF) which is readily available with them. Additional financial assistance, over and above SDRF,  is  also  considered  from  National  Disaster  Response  Fund  (NDRF)  on  receipt  of Memorandum from State Governments.

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