- India identified 315 vulnerable districts and operationalised contingency plans to tailor responses based on local rainfall and irrigation conditions.
- Authorities are boosting water conservation infrastructure and promoting low-water, short-duration crops to reduce exposure to monsoon variability.
- Seed, fertiliser and advisory systems are being reinforced alongside financial support schemes to enable rapid farmer response to weather disruptions.
The delayed southwest monsoon has left rainfall about 43 per cent below normal, and forecasts suggest rainfall will remain uncertain in the near term.
That poses risks for Kharif crops, the monsoon-sown crops that depend heavily on rainfall.
The government has stepped up advance preparations in response to those risks, with the preparedness plan reviewed last week by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Officials said the aim is to ensure rapid response as conditions evolve.
Officials said authorities are acting early through scientific planning and field-level measures to limit disruptions and protect farmers’ livelihoods.
The government has sought to reassure farmers that the combined measures will help manage risks, framing preparedness and coordination as key to limiting disruption during the Kharif season.
“There is no need to panic. What is required is preparedness and collective action. If the Centre and states, scientific institutions, district administrations and farmers work in coordination, the challenge posed by El Niño can be converted into an opportunity where water conservation, crop diversification, scientific advisories and social security schemes together provide a protective shield for farmers,” Chouhan said.
The ministry has identified 315 vulnerable districts, where contingency plans are being operationalised to tailor responses to local conditions.
Officials are prioritising district-level execution, with administrations directed to translate these plans into immediate field action rather than keeping them on paper.
Water conservation and crop strategy
Water conservation measures form a core pillar of the response, with authorities ramping up repair and expansion of ponds, check dams, farm reservoirs and other storage systems.
Rural employment schemes are being aligned to accelerate water harvesting efforts, while states have been asked to prioritise drinking water supply in the most stressed regions.
Crop strategy is also being recalibrated to limit exposure to rainfall variability.
Farmers are being encouraged to shift toward short-duration and low-water crops, alongside greater cultivation of pulses, millets and oilseeds.
Officials have advised against premature sowing and urged states to promote alternative crops if rainfall delays persist.
The government has also moved to ensure availability of critical inputs, including seeds and fertilisers, with additional buffer stocks set aside for re-sowing in affected districts.
Additional seed stocks have been earmarked for potentially affected districts, with around 1 per cent extra seed stock reserved for districts where resowing is more likely.
According to reports from the Ministry of Fertilisers, the availability of all major inputs is “satisfactory” for the Kharif season.
Additional measures
Monitoring systems have been put in place to ensure timely distribution so farmers can act quickly when conditions improve.
At the same time, advisory and support systems are being strengthened, allowing farmers to receive real-time guidance through digital and traditional channels.
Additionally, financial schemes such as crop insurance, credit access and direct income support are being positioned as safeguards against potential losses.
The ministry is also monitoring livestock risks, noting that a severely weak monsoon could lead to fodder shortages.
To address this possibility, advance supply plans are being prepared to transport fodder from surplus regions to deficit areas.
