1. Drought Preparedness 2015-16,
West Bengal
Dr. P. Bhattacharyya,
OSD & Ex-Officio Director of Agriculture,
West Bengal.

2. Drought Preparedness, learning from past
15 out of 19 Agricultural districts were
found to have rainfall deficit of 30%
Maximum over normal rainfall up-to
Mid June, 2014, i.e early Kharif
During mid-Kharif i.e up to mid
August, 14 the deficit varied between 14
to 21%, which became 13% by end of
Kharif season.
Rainfall deficit was maximum in
fertile south Bengal districts than
North Bengal.
Although considering unit area,
drought didn’t occur in entire block, but
different mouzas got >90% affected &
drought like situation prevailed.
Inter-Departmental Committees at
different levels were formed during
to Plan & execute at the grass root
level.

3. Drought Preparedness, 2015-16
State level interdepartmental meeting will
be held soon for combating drought at the
grass root level.
GOI intervention is required regarding
convergence of MGNREGA activity for
strengthening of Bunds around Individual
Plots to harvest more water.
10% of D/Cs in less drought prone districts
& 25% of the D/Cs of drought prone districts
are planned with SRI.
Targeted 40 nos of D/C with Sahabhagi
Dhan in drought prone districts & 2000 MT
Drought tolerant HYV Paddy seed is required
to cover another 40,000 ha in drought prone
areas.
Targeted 10% more ZT Rice in drought
threaten Mouzas of the State.
750 MT of lentil & 1250 MT of Khesari
seed are required to go for relay crops in
Ha.

4. Drought Management Plan-2015-16
Interventions
Area (Lakh ha)
Fund/Quantity of input required (Rs. Crore)
Support with distribution of drought tolerant HYV Paddy seeds( Days)
4.0
8.00 Crore (2000 MT)
Support with quality seeds of Urd, Lentil, Khesari, Rape seed & Mustard, Maize,
1.7
50.00 crore (400, 750, 1250, 240, 200 & 3000 MT)
Restructuring of existing loan &issuance of fresh loan to the Loanee farmer
Special instruction from GOI solicited

5. Rainfall Analysis of West Bengal in 2014 & 2015
Meteorological Division
Pre-Monsoon
(March to May)
2015
Monsoon 2014
Departure
Affected Dists. Where Rainfall Deficit > 20%
Sub-Himalayan
West Bengal
+ 21%
Nil
- 12%
Uttar Dinajpur
Gangetic West Bengal
+ 9%
- 14%
Bankura. Purulia, W. Midnapur & S. 24 Pgs

6. Rainfall (mm) Analysis of Sub-Himalayan Region of West Bengal, 2014 & 2015
District
Pre-Monsoon (March to 25thMay), 2015
Monsoon , 2014
Actual
Normal
% Departure
Darjeeling
494
328 51
2743
2472 11
Jalpaiguri
471
420 12
2458
2765
-11
Coochbehar
473
384 23
2006
2398
-16
U/Dinajpur
225
213 6
1074
1635
-34
D/Dinajpur
187
216
-13
1122
1349
-17
Malda
196
130
1039
1182
-12
Region Average
341
282 21
1740
1969

7. Rainfall (mm) Analysis of Gangetic Region of West Bengal, 2014 & 2015
District
Pre-Monsoon (March to 25th May), 2015
Monsoon, 2014
Actual
Normal
% Departure
Murshidabad
180
148 22
891
1040
-14
Nadia
155
192
-19
881
1053
-16
Birbhum
167
128 31
969
1113
-13
Bankura
207
134 54
851
1073
-21
Purulia
129 97 34
838
1076
-22
Burdwan
177
157 12
889
1019
Hooghly
196
183 7
1013
1098 -8
E/Medinipore
185
-15
1352
1241 9
W/Medinipore
214
173 24
832
1180
-30
Howrah
193
-10
990
1168
N. 24-Parganas
234
206 13
1114
1191 -6
S. 24-Parganas
170
181
1107
1446
-23
Region Average
165
977
1142

8. Monthly Actions for Drought Management
Type of drought
Time of occurrence
Actions to be taken(Advisory given to districts)
Early season
June to 1st week of July
Harvest of runoff water with more number of surface water harvesting structures like pond, dug well etc.
Strengthening of earthen bunds around the individual plot
Application of organic manure to improve water holding capacity of soil.
Preparation of Community Seedbed of rice seedlings near common source of water body
Staggered sowing of rice seed in seedbed at days interval.
Direct seeding of rice through Zero Tillage machine.
Sole & mixed cultivation of arhar, black gram, groundnut, maize.
Mid season
Rest of July
Double transplanting of medium to long duration rice varieties to avoid the drought time in the main field.
Mechanical weeding in rice and use the uprooted biomass of weeds as soil mulch.
Apply DAP or 1-2% as foliar spray & no soil application of Urea.
Other Actions as suggested for July.
Late season
August
Actions are similar to those of July.

9. Contingent Plan
Contingent seed beds of Paddy will be prepared in Government farms.
Farmers will be advised to raise community seed beds near source of irrigation water in phases.
Under post kharif season, crops like Black Gram will be grown.
Transplanting under west Bengal can continue even up to 15th August with varieties up to days duration.
Farmers will be advised to grow paddy following double –transplanting method.
Promotion of Khesari, Lentil, Toria like crop will also increase area & production of Pulse & Oilseed crops even under rainfed condition.
Rabi crops like Wheat, Mustard, Lentil, Maize, Groundnut & Summer crops like Sesame and Moong are the best suited crops under West Bengal situation.

10. THANK YOU