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Monsoon Situation Not Too Alarming: FICCI: Financial Times
New Delhi, July 18: The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) has cautioned against undue pessimism on monsoon front as the situation is `not too alarming`.
New Delhi, July 18: The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has cautioned against undue pessimism on monsoon front as the situation is “not too alarming”.
Eight to 11 states have faced drought of varying degrees in the last two years, shows a quick study by Ficci on the impact of delayed monsoon on the economy.
A very good monsoon and a bumper crop would have added to the existing foodgrain stocks of 62 million tonne and would have further dampened agriculture prices, thus hurting rural incomes.
Though as many as 12 states have been affected by the deficient rainfall in the current South-West monsoon, the situation is not too alarming as eight states were hit by drought in 2000-01 and 11 states in 1999-2000.
In 2000-01, drought affected population of around 146 million, around 69.3 million cattle and around 21.1 hectare of crop area.
FICCI has argued that India has always lived through droughts and 68 per cent of the area is prone to drought in varying degrees in most years. “More than two-third of the 33 per cent of the land area is chronically drought prone with rainfall of less than 750 mm, while another 35 per cent of the area receives 750-1125 mm rainfall and is also prone to drought,” Ficci has said in the study.
The deficient rainfall has also impacted the availability of water in reservoirs and also the recharging of the surface and groundwater.
In sharp contrast to a drought-like situation in some part of the country, as many as eight states have had excessive rainfall or floods in many areas during the same period. States such as Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh reports simultaneous occurance of both deficiency in rainfall in some areas and heavy rains or floods in others.
A very good monsoon and a bumper crop would have added to the existing foodgrain stocks of 62 million tonne and would have further dampened agriculture prices, thus hurting rural incomes.
Though as many as 12 states have been affected by the deficient rainfall in the current South-West monsoon, the situation is not too alarming as eight states were hit by drought in 2000-01 and 11 states in 1999-2000.
In 2000-01, drought affected population of around 146 million, around 69.3 million cattle and around 21.1 hectare of crop area.
FICCI has argued that India has always lived through droughts and 68 per cent of the area is prone to drought in varying degrees in most years. “More than two-third of the 33 per cent of the land area is chronically drought prone with rainfall of less than 750 mm, while another 35 per cent of the area receives 750-1125 mm rainfall and is also prone to drought,” Ficci has said in the study.
The deficient rainfall has also impacted the availability of water in reservoirs and also the recharging of the surface and groundwater.
In sharp contrast to a drought-like situation in some part of the country, as many as eight states have had excessive rainfall or floods in many areas during the same period. States such as Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh reports simultaneous occurance of both deficiency in rainfall in some areas and heavy rains or floods in others.