Whole of Jharkhand declared drought-hit

RANCHI - All the 24 districts of Jharkhand have been declared drought-hit as the state has received less than 50 percent of the normal rainfall, an official said Monday.

Eight more districts were declared as drought-hit Monday, taking to 24 the number of districts suffering from drought. The state government Aug 3 had declared half the state as drought affected. Initially 12 districts were declared drought hit and later four more were included. On Monday the remaining eight were added.

Governor M.O.H. Farook has directed officials to expedite relief work and ensure alternative farming system in the state.

In the last nine years, large parts of Jharkhand have been declared drought-hit at least six times.

The problem of farmers can be gauged from the fact that only 12 percent farmers irrigate their land through canals and other irrigation methods against the national average of 40 percent. Jharkhand produces only half of the foodgrains of its total consumption.