Hyderabad: Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao on Monday reviewed El Niño preparedness and directed officials to implement advance measures to protect farmers from possible drought conditions during the 2026 kharif season.
The Minister chaired a high-level review meeting at ICRISAT in Hyderabad. Meanwhile, scientists from IMD, PJTSAU, IIOR, IIMR and CRIDA attended the meeting. Senior officials from agriculture and allied departments also participated.
Officials reviewed the state’s three-phase contingency plan prepared under the directions of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. Further, scientists presented recommendations on drought-tolerant crops, crop varieties and field management practices.
Tummala directed district collectors and agriculture officials to remain in the field. He asked them to closely monitor conditions. Additionally, he instructed officials to ensure that farmers followed every scientific recommendation issued by experts.
Agriculture Department officials said the contingency plan covered three phases based on rainfall conditions as of July 15, July 30 and August 15. They said the government had already arranged adequate seed stocks for each phase.
El Niño preparedness includes weekly agro-weather bulletins
The Minister directed officials to review rainfall across all 33 districts every day. Moreover, he asked scientists and district administrations to jointly monitor drought-hit areas and respond without delay.
Tummala instructed departments to implement a Dynamic District Specific Response (DSR) strategy. The plan includes real-time rainfall monitoring, weather-based advisories, soil moisture tracking, crop assessment and alternative crop planning.
He also directed IMD, the Irrigation Department, Groundwater Department, Agriculture Department, Horticulture Department and Power Department to issue a weekly agro-weather bulletin for every mandal until the end of August.
The bulletin will include rainfall data, weather forecasts, groundwater status, irrigation availability, power supply and crop advisories. Meanwhile, officials will circulate it through Rythu Vedikas, gram panchayats, extension officers, WhatsApp groups, social media and other digital platforms.
Scientists advised farmers to sow crops only after adequate soil moisture developed. They also recommended moisture conservation, balanced fertiliser use, protective irrigation and weather-based crop management practices.
The Minister issued separate advisories for paddy, maize and cotton farmers. He also encouraged farmers to adopt alternative crops wherever water availability remained uncertain.
Tummala said the government had already assessed seed and fertiliser requirements under all three contingency phases. Finally, he assured farmers that coordinated arrangements with MARKFED, seed agencies and district authorities would prevent shortages.
The Minister said the Rythu Nestam programme would create awareness about El Niño, alternative cropping, water management and scientific farming practices. He assured farmers that the government would take every possible step to minimise crop losses during the season.
-ఎల్-నినో సవాళ్లను సమర్థంగా ఎదుర్కొనేందుకు తెలంగాణ ప్రభుత్వం సర్వసన్నద్ధం.
-ఎల్-నినో పరిస్థితులతో రైతు నష్టపోకుండా మూడు దశల ముందస్తు కార్యాచరణలో మొదటి దశ కార్యచరణ అమలుకు సిద్ధంగా ఉండాలని అధికారులకు ఆదేశం.
-ఇక్రిశాట్లో శాస్త్రవేత్తలతో ఉన్నతస్థాయి సమీక్ష నిర్వహించిన మంత్రి… pic.twitter.com/1AVa9lD9I6
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