By IANS,
Shimla : Himachal Pradesh has sought Rs.608.13 crore in central assistance for drought relief measures in the state, an official statement said Saturday.
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi and sought Rs.608.13 crore central assistance for carrying out drought relief measures, it said.
The state government has already declared the entire state drought-hit and pegged the horticulture and agriculture losses at Rs.872.36 crore.
A central government team has assessed the damage to crops in the state.
A survey by the agriculture department says cash crop production was down by more than 50 percent in several districts, and in some cases, by as much as 80 percent.
The meteorological office here said that all 12 districts, except Una, have received less than average rains so far.
While there was 85 percent deficit in rainfall in Chamba, the figure for Lahaul and Spiti is 72 percent, Sirmaur 63 percent and Shimla 57 percent.
“Almost the entire state has received less than the normal average rainfall. The deficiency in the cumulative rainfall from June 1 to Aug 30 is 53 percent. This means, the state saw just 292 mm average rainfall against the normal average of 625 mm,” meteorological office director Manmohan Singh said.
Agriculture is the main occupation of the people in the state, providing direct employment to 69 percent of its workforce.
According to the state’s Economic Survey for 2008-09, 86 percent of the total land holdings are of small and marginal farmers, 13 percent are owned by semi-medium and medium farmers and 0.4 percent by big farmers.
More than 80 percent horticulture and agricultural activities here are rainfed.