Bleak rains till Aug, farmers should save water: Agri minister

Kolhapur: State agriculture minister Dattatray Bharane, citing India Meteorological Department's (IMD) report that suggested bleak monsoon situation till Aug this year, on Sunday advised the farmers to use the available water stock judiciously.Bharane was speaking to the reporters at Karad in Satara on Sunday. He was on his way to Kolhapur to attend a programme at Govt Agriculture College.The IMD has predicted a strong El Nino effect which eventually leads to a dry monsoon in Indian sub-continent.Bharane said, "The IMD has predicted less rainfall till Aug. This time the summer is hot and may get hotter after April 18. There is a need for utilising the available water stock carefully. The farmers are advised to take care of their crops. At present, the availability of foodgrain is enough, but if the war in the Gulf gets extended then it will further impact the agriculture sector."He added "Export of agricultural produce has stopped and the prices domestically have either gone down or become stable."The minister also highlighted the recent incidents of hailstorms in several places across the state causing damage to the agriculture produce and livestock. "The agriculture and revenue department has initiated the assessment of the damages. Once we get the reports, the farmers will be compensated immediately," he said.State govt has issued a resolution fixing compensation for the damages caused by hailstorm. The limit of the damages has been done away with. For example, all farmers -- irrespective of the land holding, number of cattle died -- will get compensation.