**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer provided by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to Unstarred Question No. 385 regarding the Drought Manual 2016. The Minister addresses the possibility of amending the manual to extend drought periods and outlines the responsibilities of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in drought management. The document also specifies deadlines for drought declarations and extension requests by State Governments.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Departmental Mandate:**
* The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is mandated to monitor and coordinate relief measures for drought, hailstorm, pest attack, and cold wave/frost.
* **Drought Manual Information:**
* The Manual for Drought Management was published in 2009 and revised/updated in December 2016 to promote the use of modern technology.
* The Drought Manual delineates roles and responsibilities of different agencies and covers institutional structure, key variables for monitoring, declaration, response, relief, and mitigation.
* The revised Drought Manual incorporates new scientific indices and parameters for more accurate drought assessment and monitoring.
* **State Government Requirements:**
* State Governments must declare drought through notification by October 31st for Kharif and March 31st for Rabi, as per Chapter 3.4 of the Drought Manual 2016.
* The validity of drought notification cannot exceed 6 months.
* States can request a drought declaration date extension of no more than 3 weeks in case of delayed sowing/transplanting, providing documentary evidence.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** Required to adhere to specified timelines for drought declarations and are permitted to request extensions under certain conditions.
* **Action Required:** Declare droughts by the specified deadlines, provide documentary evidence for extension requests if needed.
**Farmers in Drought-Affected Areas**
* **Impact:** Timely compensation, input subsidies and other relief measures depending on the declaration of drought.
* **Action Required:** No action is required from the farmers.
**Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare**
* **Impact:** Oversees monitoring, coordination, and relief measures for drought and other disasters.
* **Action Required:** Monitor and coordinate relief measures.
Key Entities Referenced
Drought Manual 2016: A key policy document providing guidelines for monitoring, declaration, and management of drought in India.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The central ministry responsible for addressing drought-related issues and implementing drought management strategies.
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: A department within the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare that is mandated to monitor and coordinate relief measures in the wake of drought.
Manual for Drought Management: A manual published in 2009 for effective monitoring and management of drought.
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 385
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 02ND DECEMBER, 2025
DROUGHT MANUAL 2016
†385. MRS. RUCHI VIRA:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण मं(cid:287)ी be
pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that under the current provisions of the Drought
Manual 2016, the drought period in drought-affected areas is not permitted to be extended beyond
the normal monsoon cycle, depriving farmers of institutional support during crucial months like
June and July of the following year;
(b) if so, whether the Government proposes to amend the Drought Manual 2016 to extend the
drought period to the end of July of the following year or until the arrival of the next monsoon,
whichever is earlier, so that farmers can receive timely compensation, input subsidies, and other
relief measures; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य मं(cid:287)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) to (c): Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is mandated to monitor and coordinate
relief measures in the wake of drought, hailstorm, pest attack and cold wave/frost. The Manual for
Drought Management was published in the year 2009 by the Government for effective monitoring
and management of drought. It clearly delineates the roles and responsibilities of different agencies
and guiding coordination against them. The Manual covers institutional structure, key variables for
monitoring drought, declaration of drought, drought response, relief and mitigation.
To promote the use of modern technology, the Manual was revised / updated in December,
2016. The revised Drought Manual provides for use of modern technology in
monitoring/determination of drought. New scientific indices and parameters was incorporated for a
more accurate assessment and monitoring of drought.
As per Chapter 3.4 of the Manual for Drought Management, 2016 (Drought Manual), the State
Government is required to declare drought through a notification for Kharif, not later than 31st
October and for Rabi, not later than 31st March. The validity of such drought notification is not more
than 6 months. In case of delayed sowing/transplanting, States can ask for extension of drought
declaration date. This extension cannot be more than 3 weeks in any case. The Sates are required
to provide documentary evidence along with extension request.
*****