Drought, inflation await India's next PM

Last Kharif and Rabi were not encouraging.

Rahul Gandi        Narendra Modi

The wait is over; elections are on in the largest democracy of the world. Citizens are ready and enthusiastic about exercising their voting right.  Indians look forward for someone who can help them get rid of their problems by good governance. Results will be declared on 16 May 2014. A new government will come into existence in May.

Whosoever takes oath as the country’s next Prime Minister, fresh problems await him/her. PM may not sit back and rejoice as – drought and inflation followed by that may be the next big challenges he/she will face.

According to International weather agencies and bureaus, the El Nino phenomenon would disrupt and delay monsoon this year.

The Australian Meteorological Bureau said that there was a more than 70% chance of the El Nino developing this year.

El Nino, a weather phenomenon that occurs when the Pacific Ocean heats up abnormally is usually associated with deficient rainfall in India where Kharif farming is heavily dependent on June-September monsoon.

Last year (2012-13), Kharif crop (mainly soybean) got spoiled at many places in the country like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan etc due to heavy and incessant rains.

Rabi crop, too, faced unseasonal rains and wheat and chana crops in most major producing states got affected.

If such condition arises it would directly affect the food production, economic recovery and inflation.

Interestingly, food commodity price rise is one of the biggest issues in elections this year.

So the next big challenges for the PM would be to take care of farmers, who have been suffering for the last two farming seasons, inflation and economy at large.