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We do not forsee a shortage: Naren Dey

KOLKATA: West Bengal Agriculture Minister Naren Dey has ruled out any impending food shortage in the State as a result of the drought that has left a wide swath across 11 of the State's most fertile districts.

He said this at The Secretariat on Wednesday, after a meeting with departmental secretaries.

Mr. Dey said that distribution of seeds for alternative crops would begin this month. This is being done mainly to protect the livelihoods of the State's farmers. The State Bank of India has already said that it was awaiting the completion of certain formalities before rescheduling crop loans in the State, in the wake of the drought. In certain districts rainfall has been half of normal.

Mr. Dey said that of the 32 lakh tonnes of foodgrain required in the State, the government had a stock of around 12 lakh tonnes: “We do not foresee a shortage,” he said, adding that the winter (rabi) crop is expected to make up for part of the shortfall brought about by adverse weather conditions.

Of the 43 lakh hectares normally sown by farmers in West Bengal, crops sown in 11 lakh hectares has become uncertain.

The State government is trying to protect at least six lakh hectares, while trying to help the farmers sow alternate crops like maize, oilseeds and pulses on the remaining area so as to protect livelihoods.

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