The Left Front government is yet to take concrete steps to tackle the looming agrarian crisis triggered by scanty rainfall this year.

While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has alerted Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee about the impact of weak monsoon on agriculture, Chairman of National Commission on Agriculture M S Swaminathan has expressed his concerns about the impending crisis.

But on Friday, the issue was discussed only at the bureaucratic level and till date the government action has been limited to distribution of a few handbills among farmers.

“We will decide on Monday’s to be presided over by the chief minister if the situation is grave,” said state Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta after meeting Bhattacharjee.

Though sowing for the Kharif crop used to be over by July-end, the state government has decided to wait till mid-August.

Officials of the agriculture department have already warned that his Kharif season agriculture production will be reduced by one-third, leading to a severe food crisis.

Earlier in the day, Agriculture Minister Naren De met Bhattacharjee and discussed the issue. Sources said the CM has asked De to visit Manali for getting high yield potato seeds. “This will help farmers during Boro season,” said De.

He has asked the farmers to use additional nitrogenous fertilisers in their fields. “I don’t know whether additional nitrogen will work if rainfall is not adequate. But I believe that Swaminathan’s advise will surely help the farmers,” said De.

“Till now, we cannot announce the prevailing condition as drought. But the next 15 days are very crucial for us. We are sure that if there is no excess rainfall, the Boro crop will also be affected as the reservoirs will not be able to irrigate during summer and the groundwater level has already receded. We have to think for alternative farming,” he added.

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