The threat of El Nino is beginning to impact agriculture, with the monsoon showing signs of slowdown. Several regions are already witnessing below-normal rainfall. Rainfall is expected to remain deficient in 315 districts across 12 states, including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Out of these, 111 districts have been marked as high-priority zones, where irrigation coverage is only around 25 per cent. In view of the drought risk, the government has stepped up vigilance.
Contingency agricultural plans have been prepared for sensitive districts, and special monitoring systems have been activated for continuous surveillance.
The onset of the kharif season comes at a time when the monsoon is already lagging behind its normal schedule. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said at a press conference on Tuesday that rainfall so far has been deficient by nearly 43 per cent.
Rainy conditions are expected to continue until July 2, which could directly affect regions where farming is largely dependent on monsoon rainfall. As a result, the government has begun preparations instead of waiting for a possible crisis.
The central government has also classified 76 districts as medium-priority areas, with irrigation coverage of up to 50 per cent. Another 128 districts are relatively better placed, supported by irrigation systems such as dams and canals. These districts are spread across Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Odisha.
The Ministry of Agriculture has prepared district-specific contingency plans for vulnerable areas, each tailored to local climate conditions, cropping patterns, water availability, and regional risks.
These plans include alternative crop selection in case of low rainfall, crop rotation strategies, efficient use of limited water resources, and measures to protect farmers’ incomes.
The Agriculture Ministry’s El Nino Monitoring Cell and Crop Weather Watch Group are continuously tracking the situation. Weekly reviews are being conducted at the secretary level, and the Agriculture Minister is also regularly reviewing the developments.
The minister has stated that if water management, crop planning, and relief measures are implemented in time, the rural economy and the agriculture sector can be protected from major losses despite a weak monsoon.
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States have therefore been instructed to focus on the management of ponds, reservoirs, drainage systems, farm ponds, check dams, and bund structures. The government has also claimed that sufficient seeds have been reserved for the kharif season and adequate stocks of major fertilisers, including urea, are available.
States have been directed to ensure the timely availability of seeds, fertilisers, and other agricultural inputs to farmers, along with the smooth delivery of credit, assistance, and relief measures whenever required.