US may reduce its global crop estimate by 1.2% next month
Droughts withering wheat crops from the US to Russia to Australia will probably spur the biggest reduction in global supply estimates since 2003 and drive prices to the highest in almost a year. Kansas, the top US grower of winter wheat, is poised for its driest May on record, the state’s climatologist estimates. Ukraine and Russia, accounting for 11% of world output, have endured drought conditions for three months, University College London data show.

MUMBAI: If the state is faced with a drought-like situation almost all year round, water experts suggest it's time to rise above party politics and conce n trate on core water resource po licies and cropping patterns. "State policies only pay lip service to equitable water distribution . They spell out water distribution for command areas (around dams and waterbodies ) and landholders, but fail to address pockets which fall outside either of these," says Mandar Sathe of voluntary organization Prayas that works on resource management .

LUCKNOW: The growing number of farmer suicides and water scarcity in Bundelkhand region is set to figure prominently in the coming session of national executive meeting of the BJP scheduled to be held on May 24 and May 25. Speaking to TOI, former BJP president Rajnath Singh, said, "Things for the most neglected, but much politicised region continue to be as worrisome as they were during the BSP rule and despite all assurances of changing the fate of Bundelas, Samajwadi Party is proving to be equally indifferent to their plight."

The centre has sanctioned Rs588 crore as a relief measure in the 15 drought-hit districts of the state, announced relief and rehabilitation minister Patangrao Kadam here on Tuesday. The money will be released soon, he added. Following the state’s demand of Rs1,500 crore towards the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF), a central committee visited a few of the affected tehsils across the state and recommended an assistance of Rs1083 crore. However, the centre has sanctioned Rs588 crore for now. Kadam said, the funds allotted by the central government will be distributed as per the set norms.

The entire Vidarbha region in Maharashtra is facing a drought-like situation following huge water scarcity due to drying of lakes and wells in most of the villages due to intense heat wave conditions. Approximately 4,300 villages are facing the grim situation as village wells and water bodies are drying up fast, prompting the administration to supply water through tankers for human consumption and live stock.

State had sought . 2,281 crore for relief measures in 15 drought-hit districts. The union government has approved an assistance of Rs 575 crore to Maharashtra towards drought relief work. “The decision was taken on Friday by a high-level committee comprising finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, home minister P Chidambaram, agriculture minister Sharad Pawar and planning commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia,” said an official who was part of the meeting.

It is only mid-May, but we will soon be getting regular releases from the BMC and state irrigation department on the levels in various reservoirs and dams. Each report showing the levels plummeting will paint a grimmer picture of the ongoing drought so that tanker contracts, tenders for new projects and raising the height of existing dams are passed in a jiffy.

Sangli/Satara: Open trailers packed with families and cattle have become a common sight along Maharashtra’s highways — a telling sign of the distress the drought in 15 districts of the state has brought with it. Truckloads of villagers are migrating from the hinterland to cities like Mumbai, Pune and Kolhapur in desperate search for livelihood.

If the Census figures are anything to go by, the dry plateau regions of Satara have been witnessing a slow but steady migration. In fact, the persistent drought conditions in the region have been driving people out ever since British times, say activists, adding that the lack of corrective measures post-Independence are only keeping the momentum going.

Even as the villagers in dried-up Satara stare at a bleak future, their eyes look accusingly at the green measures that have come up in these dry hinterlands—the numerous windmills aimed to provide the state grid with clean energy. The one question that has returned to haunt them is: Are the windmills driving away the monsoon?