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Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday that 141 districts in the country have been affected by a drought and there is a shortfall of six million hectares under paddy this sowing season due to a wayward southwest monsoon, and people must be prepared for a further rise in prices.
Prime Minister Singh asked State Governments to immediately commence relief operations and prepare contingency plans for crops, drinking water, water and human and animal health.
Singh warned that shortfall in the present sowing season is bound to increase inflationary pressure and the necessity to keep a sharp eye on availability of food grains and essential commodities. "The need is for us to act promptly, collectively and efficiently," he said.
Singh said that high procurement by the government in the past two years has provided a sufficient buffer to provide food grains in drought-affected areas.
The Prime Minister emphasized the necessity to increase production in areas that have received adequate rainfall and implement alternate crop plans in regions that got scanty or deficient precipitation. He also underlined the need for planning for the winter sowing season to increase production by making available seeds, fertilizers and other inputs.
Singh's reference to rising prices of sugar, pulses, and some vegetables points to a concern that apart from ensuring proper functioning of the public distribution system, the general availability at retail points needs to be monitored.
The monsoon has dried up after a somewhat decent spell in the last week of July and thereafter till August 5 the departure from the long term average has been minus 64% at the all-India level and as much as minus 76% and minus 93% in north-west and central India.
The data provided by the Indian Government in mid-June pointed to a severe shortfall in rice and coarse cereals of 13% and 30% respectively.
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