India is facing drought following the delayed monsoons, significantly affecting the ongoing kharif season in the country.

Although the onset of the South-West Monsoon, 2009 was in time, the advancement of the monsoon was delayed in central and northern parts of the country.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation website, rainfall was deficient by 39% as on June 10, 2009, and by 54% as on June 24, 2009, which has resulted in drought-like conditions in some parts of the country.

As on July 29, 2009, rainfall was `scanty’ in two states and `deficient’ in 17 states. The cumulative rainfall for the period ending July 29, 2009 was deficient by 19%.

In Jharkand, all 24 districts have been declared drought-hit; in Assam all 27 districts; in Manipur, all nine districts; in Uttar Pradesh, 58 out of 71 districts and in Nagaland, all 11 districts.

The Uttar Pradesh government, in particular, has received instructions to prepare a drought relief package that will be submitted to the central government.

According to weather reports, Uttar Pradesh has received only about 128 cm of rainfall since June 1 as against the expected normal rainfall of about 307 cm.  

According to official estimates, scanty rain had adversely affected about 5.3 million hectares of paddy area, where sowing could not be carried out properly on account of inadequate water availability.

The state government has decided that there will be immediate suspension of all land revenue collection in the drought-hit districts.

Sugarcane, pulses and paddy will take a bad hit, raising serious concerns about food security.

About 40% of India’s surplus rice production in a year comes from the three states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, of which Punjab faces a 69% deficit, and Haryana showed a deficit of 57% in the first week of July.

Other states like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh showed a 66% rainfall shortage.

In Andhra Pradesh, there is 48% rainfall deficit. Sowing has been delayed and farmers are distressed, especially in the paddy intensive Krishna-Godavari belt, the rice bowl of the state.  

Maharashtra and Karnataka have received normal rainfall overall but drought-like situation prevails in Marathwada.

The Union government has announced that there is enough food in stock to tide over any shortfall in grain production.

The country had 32.9 million tonnes of wheat as on July 1 this year against a buffer food security norm of 17.1 million tonnes.

Similarly, 19.6 million tonnes of rice are in reserve against the buffer requirement of 9.8 million tonnes. 

However, with failing rain and crops, food prices are steadily increasing. According to media reports from across the country, prices of edible oils, pulses and cereals have risen by 20% and prices of fruit and vegetables by 30% in recent months.