The Union government is preparing contingency measures for farmers as agencies assess the risk that El Niño could weaken the monsoon, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.
Mr Chouhan said that states have been advised to promote crops like pulses, coarse grains, and oilseeds, which require less water and can still perform well under difficult conditions. He said, scientific protocols, timely crop planning, and district-level preparedness were being strengthened in coordination with the states.
Mr Chouhan added that Krishi Vigyan Kendras, agromet units, and other advisory channels such as SMS, WhatsApp, call centres, radio, television, and social media were being used to ensure that farmers receive timely guidance. The Minister also said that monitoring cells and weather watch groups had been set up in Delhi to review real-time data and feedback. He added that states had been asked to establish control rooms and appoint nodal officers for better coordination.
Mr Chouhan also emphasised that preparedness should not be limited to crops and water alone and that financial security of farmers is equally important. He noted special focus is being placed on expanding coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in potentially affected districts to ensure timely compensation in the event of crop losses. The Minister said that equal attention was being given to fodder availability for livestock, wider coverage under crop insurance, and the speedy issuance of Kisan Credit Cards for farmers. He noted that these steps would help reduce losses if crops are damaged due to insufficient rainfall.
The Minister further said that contingency plans had already been prepared for the affected districts, with a focus on alternative crops, short-duration varieties, crop diversification, and better use of available water resources such as ponds, reservoirs, check dams, farm ponds, and other water conservation structures.
