Digital Desk: Assam is named among the 6 states that are vulnerable to climate variations such as floods, droughts, and cyclones. The Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the Economic Survey 2024-25 on Friday providing key insights and a roadmap for reform and growth of the country's economic performance, which revealed the recent information about Assam. The survey increased agricultural sustainability concerns for the people of Assam.
The survey reveals that Assam has inadequate irrigation coverage as climate change is increasing dry spells in the state.
Seven states including two from the Northeast displayed exceptional performance above the national average in Indian agriculture. The states include Mizoram, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, West Bengal, and Uttarakhand. While excessively dry state Rajasthan shows the least sustainable agricultural practices.
The Economic Survey indicates that the Indo-Gangetic Plains including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, and Haryana, as well as rice-dominant states Jharkhand and Assam face aggravated vulnerability to climate change impacts.
The survey suggests that droughts and heat waves prevent agricultural productivity more than floods and cold waves in the country. This also exposes the need to expand irrigation coverage and diversification towards heat and water-resistant crops.
The survey reveals that Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana have extensive irrigation coverage of their gross cropped area. However, Assam and Jharkhand are trailing behind in irrigation coverage with below 20%. It emphasizes the need to boost irrigation and water management practices in these regions.
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