The IMD has predicted 99 per cent rainfall for the entire season for central India, and 93 per cent for the peninsular states.

The ministry hopes that the high percentage of land under irrigation — 80-90 per cent — in the north-western region (which includes granary states of Punjab and Haryana) will offset the impact of the poor monsoon. The Met office yesterday predicted 81 per cent rain for the region for the season.

Still, today’s meeting decided that state weather watch groups must meet often and issue regular advisories to farmers after discussing region-wise crop situations with agriculture universities. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) will start a helpline to provide technical support to state governments.

The agriculture secretary announced the ministry would help states through flexibile funding under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana for seeds and other farm support. He said he hoped an additional Rs 1,200 crore available under the scheme this year would help.

The Centre has readied an extra five lakh tonnes of seeds to meet any unforeseen demand. As part of a broader “contingency strategy”, the ministry plans to use short-duration variety seeds and crop replacement in case the monsoon situation does not ease soon.

Agriculture Commissioner Dr N B Singh told The Indian Express: “There is no need of panic at all, if IMD’s prediction for the month of July and August holds good. There is two-pronged strategy to counter any further deviation from the predictions. First, the normal delays in the sowing of crops would be taken care of by use of short-duration varieties. However, if the delay in the monsoon goes beyond mid-July, we will have to go for replacement of crops.”

... contd.