Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday that 141 districts in the country have been affected by a drought and there is a shortfall of six million hectares under paddy this sowing season due to a wayward southwest monsoon, and people must be prepared for a further rise in prices.
Prime Minister Singh asked State Governments to immediately commence relief operations and prepare contingency plans for crops, drinking water, water and human and animal health.
Singh warned that shortfall in the present sowing season is bound to increase inflationary pressure and the necessity to keep a sharp eye on availability of food grains and essential commodities. "The need is for us to act promptly, collectively and efficiently," he said.
Singh said that high procurement by the government in the past two years has provided a sufficient buffer to provide food grains in drought-affected areas.
THE fxopen.com
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