Barmer, Sept. 21 -- Barmer is facing an acute fodder and drinking water crisis after a severely deficient monsoon, with the district administration seeking state intervention to procure fodder and arrange emergency water supplies. The district received only 269 mm of rainfall between June 1 and September 16, against 504 mm during the corresponding period last year, a deficit of 235 mm, or nearly 47%. The administration has also expressed concern over the upcoming Rabi season. Crops such as isabgol and cumin are generally sown during the season, but these crops do not provide fodder for livestock. The shortfall has damaged Kharif crops and halted fresh green fodder production. District Collector Chinmayi Gopal has sought approval for fodder depots, inter-state and inter-district fodder procurement, temporary cattle camps, tanker-based water supply, emergency funds and priority in relief allocation. Barmer has around 3.33 million livestock: 2.048 million goats, 635,000 sheep, 525,000 cattle, 82,000 buffaloes and 18,000 camels, according to the 2019 census. Talking to HT, Gopal said the administration had alerted the state government in July about the failed monsoon and recently submitted a report. "State government has directed us that relief activities will be initiated on the basis of the crop assessment report. The crop assessment is currently under way and, as soon as it is completed, a detailed report will be sent to the state government for initiating relief activities," Gopal said....