India formally waved goodbye to the 2009 monsoon on December 16, as it grapples with the after effects of the worst drought in a century. The drought has severely affected the Kharif harvest, creating a food deficiency and plunging rural demand. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, out of the total 35 states and Union Territories, 22 reported deficient rainfall (262 districts) and 3 reported scanty rainfall (115 districts). As per the official data, overall 29% deficiency in rainfall was recorded in 2009, with the Northeastern states reporting 36% deficiency.
Despite a robust GDP growth of 7.9% in the last quarter-ended September, agricultural growth has proved to be a damper. Now, the policy makers are pinning hopes on the spring harvest, Rabi crops, which is likely to fuel the future economic recovery. Concerned over the rising food inflation, which crossed 20% in first week of December, the RBI is keeping a close watch on the indicators of Rabi to determine its monetary policy in early 2010.
The farmers and the Government, alike, are concerned over the disturbed weather cycles in the country. This has led to a heated up debate over the need for the implementation of latest farm technologies and controlled farming.
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If Dr. Dastur’s over 50 years old plan for interlinking of rivers continues to remain a dream, Dr. Kalam’s repeated plea during his tenure as President is treated as a lip service and not implemented, India will have perennial recurring alternate drought and flood situations causing thousands of crores of preventable loss of economy, lives, essential food items, affecting agro industry but filling the pockets of the politicians and the Administration in supposed distribution of relief / Aid to the affected, which is why the project of interlinking of rivers has not been undertaken which before 50 years could have given jobs to millions of workers all across the country; enabled construction of roadways, waterways, railway tracks from the dug out river courses, with dams, canal networks converting barren lands to green fields, preventing floods and draughts, bringing in prosperity and development, which our incapable and irresponsible leaders of both congress and BJP, the main political parties have failed and did nothing other than stashing multi crore black money in foreign Banks, enabling their economy to flourish at our cost. If this money is brought back for national development projects with 40-50 % recovery as penalty the rest money can be converted to white and used for our country’s development and they can earn back with their inborn habit of corruption and recover their money they have paid to Govt to bring in their money and into the main stream of our economy.