Centre to consult states on farming strategies

The Union Agriculture Ministry has convened a meeting of the state agriculture commissioners to deliberate on the strategies for the rabi season that falls between September and May. The two-day meeting will be held here on September 24 and 25.

As 2009 is by all means going to be a drought year, the government is pinning its hopes on the rabi season for at least a partial crop recovery. A revival in rainfall in mid-August has increased water levels in reservoirs. As 81 main reservoirs were 57 per cent filled on September 16—up from 51 per cent a week ago—it would come handy in winter, N B Singh, Union Agriculture Commissioner, said here on Friday.

The ground water situation may improve further in the coming weeks as fairly widespread rainfall is likely over the northeast and the southern peninsula even though the monsoon has started withdrawing from Rajasthan. As on Friday, the country received 21 per cent less rainfall compared with its regular quota. The last significant drought year was 2002 when rainfall was 19 per cent deficient.