The Philippine government must help Filipino farmers and agriculturists to devise a strategy that would save seeds for the next cropping season as a measure against possible drought similar to one that hit India, according scientists from a research institute on agriculture.

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) issued this advice to the Philippine government and other countries depending on rain-fed agriculture after declaring that many parts of India have been "reeling under the effects of the worst drought in five years."

Last week, the Indian Meteorological Department declared a deficiency of 29 percent in the southwest monsoon, which increased the number of drought-affected districts to 177 in India.

ICRISAT director William Dar said that half of the cropping season has gone by without rains in large parts of Andhra Pradesh that left little chance for traditional crops including groundnut to be sown under normal growing conditions at this stage.

In a bid to prevent this from happening in other countries, Dar said it is important for the governments to assist agriculturists in saving seeds while scientists devise new techniques to increase the productivity of small and marginal farmers.

He explained that saving seeds for the next cropping season is important to arrest the "crippling effects" of drought in rain-fed agriculture such as its adverse impact on the economy that continues in subsequent years.

“Besides causing concern for food, nutritional security and livelihood activities, the consequences of this severe drought are going to be felt for long on agriculture itself,” Dar said.