Hyderabad: The Telangana government urged farmers to conserve water and electricity amid El Niño concerns and warned of possible shortages of drinking water, food grains and livestock fodder. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka directed government departments to prioritise drinking-water requirements while preparing for prolonged dry conditions.
He said the state had no clear indications of rainfall until June or July 2027. Consequently, the government wanted available water resources reserved exclusively for drinking purposes. The Deputy Chief Minister issued the instructions during a video conference under the Rythu Nestham programme on Monday.
Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju also participated. District Collectors, officials from various departments and farmers joined the meeting from Rythu Vedikas across all districts.
El Niño concerns prompt preparations for water shortages
Bhatti Vikramarka cited World Meteorological Organization reports while explaining the government’s preparations for possible adverse weather conditions. According to him, El Niño’s impact could peak by December, while the resulting conditions could persist until 2027.
He said several parts of the world could experience higher temperatures and reduced rainfall. Such conditions could create difficulties for farmers and the general public. Therefore, he instructed departments to coordinate measures addressing drinking-water shortages, possible food-grain scarcity and livestock requirements.
He also stressed the need to arrange adequate fodder and drinking water for animals. Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao advised farmers against cultivating paddy and cotton during the current Rabi season.
Instead, he recommended rain-fed crops and short-duration varieties that required less water. He said the government had arranged subsidised seeds for rain-fed crops to encourage farmers to adopt alternative cultivation practices.
Additionally, he urged farmers to select crops that consumed minimal water and could be harvested quickly. The Minister announced plans to convene an emergency Cabinet meeting to discuss the El Niño situation.
He also said the government would consider sending a high-level delegation to the Centre to discuss the situation. Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju reported a rainfall deficit of approximately 20 per cent compared with the previous monsoon season.
He said all 33 districts of Telangana had recorded below-normal rainfall. The rainfall figures formed part of the discussions on water conservation and agricultural planning amid El Niño concerns.