Indian farmers can expect some solace if the monsoon fails as forecast for this year. The government announced on Saturday that it will supply subsidized diesel, power and seeds to farmers who would be affected by the paucity of monsoon rainfall.
According to sources PTI has quoted, the Centre could continue per-liter subsidy of R s10 on diesel this year, too, and increase the subsidy on seeds to 50 per cent under various schemes. Also, farmers would receive free power for irrigation.
Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had on Tuesday updated its rainfall prediction for the year from 93 percent to 88 percent. The IMD forecast that southwest monsoon should set in about June 5. It is being delayed by a loss of strength after the currents reached Hambantota in Sri Lanka and the northern limit of monsoon has remained stagnant there for over a week.
Along with the support for farmers, the Centre has also asked states to set aside 10 per cent of the funds from Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) to make interventions as and when required. Last fiscal the central government had set aside about Rs 10,000 crore for RKVY.
Further, the Centre has advised states to utilize 10 per cent of allocation under different centrally sponsored schemes to support farmers. Similar measures were taken during last year.
In the first week of July, the government plans to review the situation and proceed with further support measures if required. The ministry of agriculture would approach the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) if it requires approval of special measures, including subsidies on diesel or raising the ceiling of seed subsidy, PTI reports.
The decisions were taken at a meeting Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh had with officials of IMD, National Disaster Management Authority and the ministries of power, water resources, rural development and fertilizers.
Ajith Kumar S