New Delhi: The National Rainfed Area
Authority (NRAA) has chalked out a district-wise contingency
plan to mitigate the impact of late monsoon by dividing the
sowing period into three phases and provided a detailed
advisory on the planting of different crops.
As the country`s 60 per cent of farm land depends on
monsoon, NRRA, an autonomous body under the Ministry of
Agriculture, has worked out the comprehensive plan asking
farmers to sow specific crops in select regions.
According to the contingency plan, farmers are advised to
sow basmati paddy crop in Central Punjab and short-duration
paddy variety along with green and blackgram, pigeonpea in
eastern Uttar Pradesh, respectively, between July 15 and 31.
Moreover, high-breed bajra and sorghum can be planted in
the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh
during this period.
Short-duration bajra, moong and guar can be sown in
Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi and urad, sunflower, maize and
pigeonpea in some of the paddy-growing areas of Bihar.
Similarly, moong, bajra, guar and maize can be planted in
some districts of Punjab, Himachal and Uttar Pradesh in the
first fortnight of August, while short-duration varieties of
sorghum, bajra and moong can be sown in the Bundelkhand region
of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
"The plan has been framed keeping in mind the delayed
monsoon which will have adverse impact on water availability
in the rain-fed areas in the country.
"States have been advised to follow the plan to avert a
food crisis," VK Bahuguna, Technical expert (forest), NRRA,
said.
The Authority has also asked the states to adopt
contingency measures for livestock and horticulture, among
others.
Bureau Report
