Hyderabad: Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Thursday urged farmers to plan crops cautiously as the continuing rainfall deficit affected inflows into major reservoirs.
He warned that conditions could worsen if deficient rainfall continued during September and October, as projected by meteorological authorities. Uttam said farmers should consider actual water availability and prevailing climatic conditions before deciding which crops to cultivate.
He cautioned them against relying solely on expectations of substantial rainfall or fresh reservoir inflows during the coming weeks. The Minister made the appeal while reviewing irrigation works and the prevailing water situation in Suryapet district.
Rainfall deficit hits reservoir inflows
Uttam, along with irrigation officials, reviewed the progress of the Mahatma Gandhi Muktyala Branch Canal Lift Irrigation Scheme. During the review, he also examined rainfall conditions, reservoir storage and inflows available for irrigation.
The Minister said the state government was closely monitoring these factors before taking decisions on irrigation releases. According to Uttam, the continuing rainfall deficit had reduced inflows into major reservoirs, including Nagarjuna Sagar.
Therefore, he stressed the need for prudent management of the water currently available. The government would have to balance agricultural requirements with reservoir conditions while deciding future releases, he indicated.
Rainfall deficit outlook to guide crop decisions
Uttam said the rainfall outlook for the remaining monsoon period also required careful consideration. Meteorological indications of deficient rainfall during September and October would have to be factored into agricultural planning and water-management decisions, he said.
The Minister also referred to El Niño while explaining the broader climatic conditions affecting rainfall. “El Niño is a global climatic phenomenon. It is not something confined to Huzurnagar, Suryapet district or Telangana. We have to understand the larger climatic conditions and plan according to the water actually available to us,” Uttam said.
He consequently advised farmers to avoid crop decisions based only on hopes of improved rainfall. Instead, cultivation plans should reflect existing water availability and the prevailing climatic outlook.
Uttam said the government would continue monitoring rainfall, reservoir levels and inflows before determining irrigation releases. His appeal focused on reducing agricultural risks if the rainfall deficit continued during the remaining monsoon period.