The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal of the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture for initiating a series of farmer friendly interventions in the wake of deficient rainfall as per IMD forecast of below average monsoon.
This will help in dealing with challenges posed by delayed and aberrant monsoon. Immediate remedial measures are to be initiated to save standing agricultural crops and perennial orchards.
CCEA approved implementation of Diesel Subsidy Scheme for protective irrigation of crops with an allocation of Rs. 100 crore; enhancement of ceiling on seed subsidy to partially recompense the farmer for the additional expenditure incurred in resowing and purchasing appropriate varieties of seeds; Implementation of drought mitigating interventions on perennial horticulture crops with an additional allocation of Rs. 150 crore under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), among others.
These measures have been sanctioned with an additional allocation of Rs. 300 crore during current financial year. As a result of the above interventions, farmers will be better equipped to deal with challenges posed by delayed and aberrant monsoon, claims a PIB release.
