Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in Parliament today that the impact of the looming drought would be known only by July-end. But in Rajasthan, farmers are already facing up to the bitter truth.Even as the Centre works on an additional drought relief package of over Rs 900 crore for Maharashtra, another monsoon nightmare is a foregone conclusion in Rajasthan, after four successive droughts.The omens are all in place: medium-range forecasts say that though there could still be rain in Rayalseema, Telangana and Vidarbha, there’s very little hope for Rajasthan.And, the overall deficiency is already more than 50 per cent, with all 32 districts falling under the deficient category.Even the Agriculture Ministry’s teams have reported that while the situation is not alarming yet for other north western states, there’s not even a silver lining for Rajasthan. The final indication: the price of fodder has started rising. Selling at around Rs 25 per 40 kg a month ago, it is now going at almost Rs 50 per 40 kg.The need now, experts say, is not a package after the drought, but some real-time intervention that will reduce the damage for farmers. Those working on the ground there have already issued advisories for farmers that give an indication of the crisis.Jodhpur-based Central Arid Zone Research Institute has prepared a special contingency plan for the State. And, with time for planting bajra, the main crop of Rajasthan, having run out, the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) says it can only be grown now as fodder—if some soil moisture is available. Already, sowing is far behind schedule.According to latest figures, bajra has been sown only in 9.2 lakh hectares this time, instead of 38 lakh hectares last year.Farmers are also being advised to harvest alternate rows of sown crop to be used for fodder, thereby reducing stress. Instead of bajra, they have been asked to grow short-duration varieties—‘moong bean’ and ‘moth bean’.According to an ICAR expert, if the rains do not come by August 15, farmers would have to prepare for an early ‘rabi’ crop too.Sensing the scene, the State Government has received reports from the secretaries in charge of different districts on the effects of rainfall failure on drinking water, fodder, food grains and crops.In 2002, Rajasthan did get a package from the Centre, but after the damage was done.
