UP govt rolls out extensive strategy to shield crops from heatwaves, monsoon floods

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 14 (ANI): Amidst the ongoing heatwave and the monsoon approaching, the Uttar Pradesh government, dedicated to farmers' welfare, has implemented a comprehensive plan to safeguard the state's crops.
The state government ensures that the farmers do not have to face any adverse situations due to seasonal changes and they get the benefit of all the schemes of the central and state governments.
In this sequence, the work of issuing advisories based on technical recommendations given by the Crop Weather Watch Group (CWWG) in 27 highly sensitive, 13 sensitive, and 35 normal districts of the state regarding floods is given a concrete shape.
In light of the heatwave affecting the crops, the Chief Secretary has advised regional agricultural officers to protect crops from this seasonal outbreak. It is being implemented based on the recommendations of a weather-based state-level agriculture advisory group (Crop Weather Watch Group).
The advisory encompasses various measures, including ensuring proper water drainage and moisture levels in paddy nurseries, employing mulching techniques, the use of sprinkler and drip irrigation, regular light irrigation, and the use of organic fertilizers and contour trench methods, including groundwater and rainwater conservation.
With the monsoon expected to be active soon in the state, a comprehensive strategy is being implemented to safeguard crops from potential floods. The Crop Weather Watch Group has provided technical recommendations, leading to advisories being issued for the state's 27 highly sensitive, 13 sensitive, and 35 normal districts.
The plan includes prioritising flood-resistant paddy varieties such as Swarna Sub-1, Sambha Masuri Sub-1, IR-64 Sub-1, and NDR-99301111, as well as implementing the Sanda method and transplanting rice from mid-June to early July.
Efforts are underway to ensure comprehensive coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, with a focus on ensuring crops at the gram panchayat level and extending insurance benefits to farmers. At the same time, the process of benefiting farmers through the Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme has also started.
In this process, banana, chilli, and betel leaves have been given priority as insured Kharif crops, and tomato, capsicum, green peas, and mango have been given priority as Rabi crops. The last dates for getting crop-wise insurance are June 30 for banana and betel, July 31 for chilli, November 30 for tomato, bell pepper, and green pea, and December 15 for mango. (ANI)