New Delhi: Monsoon has not yet arrived in India, but it is already feared that the country may be affected by drought. Many research reports have shown that this year the effect of El Nino will be seen in the country, due to which there will be very less rain and snowfall. If there is an effect of El Nino, there will be a decline in agricultural production, which means that the prices of food items will increase rapidly.
TOI reported that the US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted the re-emergence of El Nino in June-December 2023 with (55-60%). Several research reports have highlighted the possibility of a decline in agricultural production during the current financial year, keeping inflation high. El Nino and La Nina are climate patterns in the Pacific Ocean.
According to the report, in the last 20 years, wherever drought-like conditions have been observed, there has been an effect of El Nino. It is believed that food prices will fluctuate in India this year due to drought. States’ ability to buy grains will reduce. India has experienced a monsoon season rainfall deficit in eight out of the last 22 years. The Economic Survey of India 2013-14 mentions that during the last 10 El Nino years, India has faced a rainfall deficit of 10 percent or more in six years. Research states that most of the drought years in India coincide with El Nino.
India needs to be prepared. The Meteorological Department said in a press release on February 22 that the maximum temperature this month is 3-5 degrees Celsius above normal in wheat-growing northwest India. Last March grain production was 3 million tonnes less due to high temperatures. The government banned the export of wheat in May. Poor people entitled to subsidized ration were given rice instead of wheat in 10 states, including wheat-eating Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Overall, the allocation of wheat was reduced from 24 million tonnes to 18 million tonnes under the National Food Security Act 2013.
