Centre pledges full support to farmers battling drought and floods

The Centre is committed to providing all possible support to farmers reeling from adverse weather conditions, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in Nagpur on Saturday. The minister attributed the crisis to mounting climate change impacts affecting various states simultaneously, with some regions battling severe drought while others grapple with devastating floods.

Chouhan said contingency plans have been prepared and shared with state governments to guide farmers on suitable short-duration crops suitable for low rainfall periods. The ministry has also established seed banks and arranged alternative agricultural arrangements, while issuing detailed advisories to state administrations to support affected farming communities.

Maharashtra has declared drought conditions across 74 per cent of the state, prompting heightened coordination between central and state authorities. Chouhan said his ministry maintains constant contact with the Maharashtra government and has readied contingency plans for the worst-hit districts. "We will provide every possible support to the farmers in coordination with the state government," the minister said.

The minister's statement underscores the government's acknowledgment of India's vulnerability to climate-related agricultural crises, with multiple regions simultaneously experiencing extreme weather events that threaten farm productivity and rural livelihoods across the country.