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In view of shortfall in monsoon, the government today said it plans to provide a special assistance package, including higher subsidy on seeds, to areas affected by drought. Listing out measures to deal with possible drought, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said so far, no state has announced drought. He informed the Lok Sabha that subsidies would be increased on seeds apart from extending assistance for horticulture and fodder production.

"The government proposes to have a special assistance package to areas affected by drought. The proposal will be placed before the Cabinet," Singh said. He was replying to a discussion on the flood and drought situation in the country.

According to him, subsidy on diesel would be extended in areas where the rainfall has been less than 50 per cent and the same would be in place for the period from July 15 to September 30. Besides, the subsidy on seeds would be increased by 50 per cent in areas where sowing has started but has been affected by shortfall in rain.

In case drought is announced in any state, Singh said the government has proposed a INR 700 crore scheme to rejuvenate horticulture crops and another INR 100 crore programme for increasing fodder production.

The Minister noted that so far no state has reported that a particular district or area is under drought even as he acknowledged that delay in monsoon has resulted in shortfall in sowing. Singh also said the government is taking "swift action" to address shortage of storage facilities for foodgrains.

Citing initiatives to set up agricultural as well as horticulture universities in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Singh asserted there is no politics involved in addressing issues of the agriculture sector.

"Try to understand the bonafide intentions of the government," he said. The Minister assured that issues related to agricultural crop insurance scheme would be discussed with states. He said a meeting of state agriculture secretaries has been convened next week to discuss crop insurance. On members' suggestions to deal with floods and drought, Singh said he would take them into account in future planning. Earlier, participating in the discussion, RJD member Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav demanded that the government should provide INR 10,000 crore relief package for people affected by Kosi floods.

Congress member Gaurav Gogoi said there should be an advanced flood forecasting system and called for holistic approach to address the issue of flooding. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Cong) said the government is more concerned about getting applause more than dealing with floods and drought.

Source-On Request