Contingency Plan Ready for Kharif Crops

Published on August 8, 2010 by INVC · 1 Comment

INVC,,

Delhi,,

Contingent crop plan for three different scenarios of the monsoon like less rainfall, normal rainfall and excess rainfall has been prepared and issued to all State Governments for implementation as per the requirement of the state.

Under Public Distribution System it is mandated to help both the producers and consumers of food grains by linking procurement and their distribution at affordable prices.

Based on the first long range (as on 23.04.2010) forecast issued by Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the rainfall during South-West Monsoon in the country as a whole is likely to be normal; i.e. quantitatively 98% of Long Period Average (LPA), with a model error of +_ 5%. As per the 2nd revised forecast issued on 25.6.2010 the rainfall in the country as a whole is likely to be 102% of LPA with a model error of +_ 4%.

South West Monsoon rainfall is precious for agriculture production in India as nearly 65% of Indian Agriculture is rain fed or depends on rain. Good rainfall in this season would positively influence the area of sowing under food grain crops and subsequently the food grain production. This is evident from the increased area sown under food grain crops during the Kharif 2010 i.e. 466.67 lakh ha so far (30.07.2010) compared to 426.94 lakh ha during the corresponding period of 2009 and 453.72 lakh ha in the year 2008.

This information was given by Prof. K.V. Thomas, Minister of State for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.