Rs 45.5 crore to deal with delayed monsoon

Hyderabad, August 1 :-

  Minister for Revenue Dharmanna Prasada Rao on Saturday said the Government was preparing a back-up plan in case of failure of monsoon as it has already impacted crop sowing in many parts of the State.

He said the government would announce Rs 45.5 Crore to deal with the situation arised out of failure of monsoon.

Talking to media people after a high level officials meeting conducted to review the situation arised out of failure of monsoon in the state under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, he said the ministry made an assessment of the drought-like situation recently and found that there had been delay in sowing of kharif crops like rice, groundnut, soyabean and cereals.

The Minister said the Chief Minister had suggested to farmers to grow alternative crops instead of traditional varieties.

Though the situation was not yet clear as to the actual impact of deficient rains, the government was concerned at the delayed monsoon and a back-up plan was chalked out to deal with the situation, he pointed out.

He said the amount would be utilized to meet contingent situations in the event of deficient rainfall, particularly for purchase and distribution of seeds, support for micro-irrigation etc.

The state received deficient rainfall in 80 per cent areas. However, he ruled out there is no drought like situation in the state.

Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah and Minister for Agriculture Raghuveera Reddy also took part in the review meeting.