Centre to states: Review drought preparedness

Around 25-30% of the country's landmass in any given season does not get adequate rainfall

Though India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a normal monsoon in 2017 which could be fairly evenly distributed, but the ministry of agriculture has written to all state governments to review preparedness for contingency in advance.

The exercise, agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh said, will help ease any possible impact of sub-par rainfall on farmers.

Despite having a normal monsoon, around 25-30 per cent of the country’s landmass in any given season does not get adequate rainfall. 

In 2016, southwest monsoon was normal but nine out of 36 meteorological subdivisions didn’t get deficit showers. 

These areas, which fell in southern and western parts, witnessed