Telangana steps up El Nino preparedness, urges crop shift as rainfall deficit widens
With Telangana recording a 31% cumulative rainfall deficit since June 1 and 27 of its 33 districts classified as deficient as of Monday (July 20)
With Telangana recording a 31% cumulative rainfall deficit since June 1 and 27 of its 33 districts classified as deficient as of Monday (July 20), Ministers and public representatives on Monday intensified efforts to prepare for the anticipated impact of El Nino, urging farmers to adopt less water-intensive crops and directing departments to implement contingency measures. The district-level reviews follow the State government’s decision on July 18 to constitute a high-level multidisciplinary expert committee led by Planning Board vice-chairman G. Chinna Reddy to assess the likely impact of El Nino and formulate strategies to minimise its effect on agriculture and allied sectors.
Addressing a review meeting in the Nalgonda District Collectorate, Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy directed Agriculture Department officials to assess rainfall deficit conditions in advance and undertake extensive awareness campaigns on crops that require less water. He suggested organising village-level meetings to provide scientific guidance to farmers on crop selection, seed availability, irrigation conditions and market prospects. He instructed all departments to work in coordination and take necessary preventive measures. Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, District In-charge Minister Adluri Laxman and officials attended the meeting. In Mahabubnagar, Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha called for a mission-mode response to the El Nino challenge, asserting that protecting farmers and the public remained the government’s foremost priority.
Chairing a district-level review meeting, he described the next 10 days as crucial and directed officials to intensify awareness campaigns on crop diversification and water conservation. He instructed the Agriculture Department to prepare an immediate action plan covering seed availability, fertiliser supply, subsidies and promotion of alternative crops. He asked agricultural scientists to tailor advisories based on soil conditions, rainfall patterns and groundwater availability and ensure that every farmer received crop-specific guidance suited to local conditions. He suggested establishment of toll-free helplines to provide farmers with timely information on weather conditions, alternative crops, input availability and government assistance. State Planning Commission Vice-Chairman Chinna Reddy urged agricultural officials to promote short-duration and low-investment crops such as vegetables, pulses, oilseeds and horticultural crops in the unsown areas.
The BriefWire