Through a PIB press release Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has rejected the media reports regarding drought in 225 districts in 17 States. It says the reports are factually incorrect.
“The Ministry has been monitoring regularly the agricultural situation in the States. During the current monsoon season, the monsoon rains have been normal i.e. 738.8 mm against the normal of 782.2 mm as on 10.09.2017. The overall rainfall in the country is in the category of normal (-6%). The monsoon season in the country is from 1st June to 30th September. Many States particularly, NE States are receiving heavy monsoon rains”, the release states.
The kharif crops coverage in almost all the States have been satisfactory and the rains during the period from 1-10 September, 2017 in Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Odisha and Jharkhand have improved moisture in the soil, it says further.
“This wide distribution of rainfall has brightened the prospects of kharif production in current season. The current rainfall in first fortnight of September in many States will improve the situation. The yield is expected to be same as of last year. There is no drought like situation”, it concludes.