El Nino beckons Telangana Irrigation Minister to call for plan prioritising drinking water over irrigation
Telangana Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy urged farmers to be alert during the ongoing Kharif season in view of the impact of El Nino
Telangana Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy urged farmers to be alert during the ongoing Kharif season in view of the impact of El Nino, which led to weakened southwest monsoon and reduced rainfall in various parts of the country. The Irrigation Minister said that the water available in reservoirs has to be used judiciously and there was a need to chart a comprehensive plan giving priority to drinking water needs before allocating water for irrigation. He suggested farmers, in areas with less water availability, to go for crops that need less water and can withstand heat instead of cultivating water-intensive crops.
They were asked to closely monitor weather conditions and adapt their agriculture practices accordingly. Speaking during a tour of Huzurnagar and Kodad constituencies in Suryapet on Friday, Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy said that a major part of the Godavari river basin is in Maharashtra — which has received less rainfall. This has delayed inflows into Telangana. As the southwest monsoon has weakened due to the El Nino, India received nearly 40% below-normal rainfall in the past month, making it one of the driest June in recent years, he said.
Telangana too received nearly 22% below-normal rainfall in June, which impacted sowing work in various parts of the State. The government is keeping a close watch on rainfall and water levels in reservoirs, and will take suitable decisions according to the situation. Meanwhile, D. Raji Reddy, Vice-Chancellor of Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University, advised farmers to cultivate crops that require less water such as vegetables, cereals, oilseeds, and pulses, in view of El Nino phenomenon and the anticipated drop in water levels in the Krishna and Godavari reservoirs.
Speaking at the ‘Annual Action Plan’ programme organised by 16 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of Telangana at the College of Horticulture in Rajendranagar, he urged farmers to opt for eco-friendly crops, noting that the currently dominant crops cannot withstand the rainfall fluctuations associated with El Nino. He emphasized the need to extensively promote horticultural crops to turn the impact of El Nino into an opportunity.
The BriefWire