Centre has taken a series of measures to offset the losses in Kharif season due to deficient monsoon. The Finance Minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee informed the Lok Sabha today that steps have been taken to ensure that no land remains unsown for want of inputs. States have also been asked to prepare alternate plans and more area is being brought under cultivation in the Rabi season. Besides this, public distribution system has been strengthened with more allocation of food grains so that below poverty line people get food grains at minimum prices. Besides this a diesel subsidy scheme has also been announced. He informed the House that the agriculture registered a 2.4 per cent growth in the first quarter of 2009-10 and National Food Security Mission and Rashtriya Krishi Vikaas Yojna are in place to increase production and productivity. <br/><br/>