The government has prepared Contingency plans for 353 districts across the country for implementing location specific interventions to sustain agriculture production to tackle drought like situation.

Minister of state for agriculture Harish Rawat today said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha that subsidy on seeds has been increased to partially recompense the farmers for the expenditure in re-sowing and purchasing drought tolerant variety of seeds.

He said that in view of deficient rainfall, states such as Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been allocated with additional power from Central Pool. Mr. Rawat said that Reserve Bank of India has issued standing guidelines to banks for providing relief to the farmers in areas affected by natural calamities including drought