Include poor rainfall districts in contingency plan

The State unit of the Samajwadi Party (SP) has demanded inclusion of the 11 rainfall-deficient districts of the State in the contingency plan.

In a memorandum, submitted to Union Minister of State for Agriculture Harish Rawat during his visit here on Tuesday, SP State president Rabi Behera demanded a special package of ` 3,000 crore for the State for dealing with the situation.

Besides, the Centre should also provide free seeds, fertilisers and pesticides to farmers for rabi season, he said.

He said support price should be announced for paddy and milk __ paddy at Rs 1,500 a quintal and Rs 25 for a litre of milk, he said.