The State government will seek timely revisions in the norms governing the declaration of drought and Central aid in the light of the heavy losses sustained by the agriculture sector this summer, Agriculture Minister P. Prasad has said.
The State’s requirement will be placed before the Union government after discussing it with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Mr. Prasad told The Hindu on Wednesday. The Agriculture department, he said, was pressing ahead with the procedures involved in ensuring adequate compensation to the affected farmers.
“The sector has sustained heavy losses. Yet, our situation do not satisfy the existing parameters for the declaration of a drought notwithstanding the fact that we had heatwave conditions in some districts. The parameters were set years ago and scarcely match present needs. Climate change and global warming are presenting new challenges and a timely revision is needed,” Mr. Prasad said.
