The New Indian Express – Online

With a nearly 51 per cent rain deficit, Hemant Soren government is all set to declare Jharkhand as drought-hit. An emergency meeting was called by state agriculture minister on Tuesday during which he took a stalk of the situation and informed that a final decision will be taken within a couple of days after a discussion with the disaster management minister. A detailed report is being prepared in this regard, on the basis of which, the final decision will be taken by holding a meeting with senior officials of the Agriculture and Disaster Management Department. Agriculture Minister Badal Pratralekh said that he is very concerned about the farmers of the state and that ...

Down To Earth – Online

Unusual rainfall trends in the pre-monsoon and monsoon showers this year have affected agriculture in the North East. Mixed agricultural practices in many areas have, however, helped balance crop yield despite the erratic rains from March through July. Farms in Assam were destroyed by the incessant monsoon rains that submerged large parts of the state earlier this month. The state faced prolonged and devastating floods in the critical period of agriculture activities, even though heavy pre-monsoon showers had helped prepare fields for Kharif paddy cultivation. Usually, the North East receives about 20-25 per cent of its annual rainfall in the pre-monsoon period. But this year, it was 62 per cent above average — the ...