Unseasonal Rainfall & Impact

02 Mar 2015 (AIR News Analysis)

Unseasonal Rainfall & Impact

Participants: JS Sambra, CEO/ National Rainfed Area Authority, and Harveer singh, Editor.

Rainfall beyond certain level affect the quality & quantity of the production.

Westerly disturbances – unseasonal rainfall – in North India – Example: Punjab Haryana Hail strome – affect the standing crops;

It helps for the growth of forest, fodder etc;

Oilseed & pulse production – falls –more import required;

Information flow – communication – compensation to the affected farmers – safety net – insurance – popularizing it among the farmers;

Another safety net – introducing more livestock – diversification of income – tool against weather anomalies;

Two issues of Insurance:

1. Currently, Insurance is given for the Bank. It should focus farmers.

2. Problem in the estimation of loss. More transparency required – participative process;

Natural calamities contingency fund – Govt. should summit memorandum to the state – ** Flood (Home Affairs), Drought (Agri Ministry);

Precaution/Preventive measures:

1. Avoiding water stagnation.

2. Irrigation should be done based on the weather forecast.

16 Mar 2015

Impact of Unseasonal Rainfall on crops

Participants: Dr. JS Sambra, CEO/ National Rainfed Area Authority, and Harveer singh, Editor.

Kharif crop is not good – because of the rain – when the crops or the due for maturity/reap – anomaly due to climate change – industrialization, Anthropogenic activities; Ex: rotten potatoes due to stagnation of rainwater 15-16 days; Vegetable, Mangos affected by the hail storms;

Combined harvesting machine – cannot be worked when the field is waterlogged;

State wise analysis system – Eg. Gujarat Anawari system – satellite assessment must be developed;

Difficulties in the assessing of the damages – unseasonal rainfall, hail storms, high-speed wind; Helplines – to keep the farmers informed about the relieve measures;

Multi-crops, diversification, withstanding crops, livestock cultivation – loss can be prevented/ compensated;

Crop assessment schemes