Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday laid  stress on reducing farmer's distress, as the agriculture ministry presented a contingency plan for 500 districts that are likely to experience a poor monsoon, an official statement said.

 

A statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office said Modi reviewed "in detail" issues related to agriculture, rural development, water resources, organic farming, fertilisers and chemicals, and animal husbandry.

 

"The prime minister was briefed by secretaries of the various departments on plans for these sectors," the statement said. "He stressed particularly on the need to reduce farmer distress, and to boost rural economy."

 

Agriculture ministry, meanwhile, presented a contingency plan for 500 districts in view of the possibility of a poor monsoon. The meeting was a part of a series of review of various ministries, as the prime minister had mentioned in his meeting with secretaries.

 

The meeting was attended by Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Ananth Kumar, Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, and Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh.