Half of India affected by drought

(Aug.20,2009): Nearly half of India's districts have been hit by drought that could affect the production of rice, the country's farm minister has said. Sharad Pawar said 246 districts in 10 states had been declared as drought affected. India has some 600 districts. Separately, authorities in southern Andhra Pradesh state say, they are probing whether the suicides of 20 farmers are linked to the drought.
This monsoon season has brought 29% less rainfall than normal. Pawar said rice production in the country could decline by 10 million tonnes this year because of the drought. According t official figures India produced nearly 100 million tonnes of rice during 2008-2009. Pawar said "Due to the expected reduced production of rice, there could be pressure on availability and market price." He added .that with food prices rising, the government was planning to release wheat and rice from its stocks in the open market to keep prices in check.
Up to 70% of Indians are dependent on farm incomes, and about 60% of India's farms depend on rains. Irrigation networks are dismissed by critics as inadequate. The summer rains are crucial to crops such as rice, soybean, sugarcane and cotton.