The Agriculture Ministry has prepared a comprehensive contingency plan in view of the poor monsoon, whereby farmers in each district of affected states are advised which crops to sow and when.
As the country's north-western region has been worst-hit with poor rains, the National Rainfed Authority (NRRA) under the Ministry of Agriculture has asked farmers 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," NRRA Technical expert (forest) VK Bahuguna said.
The Authority has also asked the states to adopt contingency measures for livestock and horticulture, among others.
