Rainfall Deficit: State Directs Immediate Implementation of Contingency Crop Plan
The State government has directed District Collectors to take immediate steps to implement the contingency crop plan prepared in view of the anticipated rainfall deficiency. The direction was issued during a video conference held on Friday to review the impact of El Nino conditions and the deficient rainfall in the State.
El Nino conditions, which influence weather patterns across the globe, are often associated with weaker monsoon rainfall in India. In anticipation of a possible shortfall, the government has prepared a contingency crop plan that outlines alternative cropping strategies for farmers.
The government reiterated the need for crop diversification and called for sustained efforts to sensitise farmers on the importance of choosing crops that require comparatively less water and are better suited to the prevailing climatic conditions. The focus is on reducing the reliance on water-intensive crops such as paddy, particularly in areas where water availability is uncertain.
Ministers N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Tummala Nageswara Rao, and Jupally Krishna Rao, along with Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju, gave the directions during the video conference with the District Collectors. The meeting was convened to assess the preparedness of districts and to ensure that the contingency plans are implemented effectively at the grassroots level.
Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy exhorted the District Collectors to make all-out efforts to wean farmers away from excessive dependence on paddy cultivation. He emphasised that farmers should be properly sensitised about the availability of water and the risks associated with cultivating water-intensive crops under deficient rainfall conditions. Awareness camps should be conducted at the field level to encourage farmers to take up pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, and other horticultural crops as part of the crop diversification strategy. Farmers should be provided with necessary technical guidance and information so they can make informed decisions regarding alternative crops.
He said the contingency plans should not be confined to the district level and should reach the mandal and village levels. Agriculture and allied departments should work in close coordination with the district administration to ensure that farmers were adequately informed about suitable alternative crops and the available support mechanisms. This decentralised approach is intended to ensure that the plans are adapted to local conditions and reach every farmer.
Mr. Nageswara Rao called for convening the meetings of the Irrigation Advisory Boards at the district level at the earliest. The meetings should assess the availability of water in reservoirs, irrigation projects, and other sources and communicate the water availability position clearly to farmers. This would enable farmers to plan their crops appropriately and avoid taking up water-intensive crops in areas where irrigation water availability is limited.
Panchayat Raj Special Chief Secretary Dana Kishore briefed about the construction of integrated farm ponds through self-help groups. These ponds are intended to aid in water conservation and provide supplemental irrigation for crops during dry spells.
The government's directives underscore a proactive approach to managing the potential impact of deficient rainfall. By encouraging crop diversification and informed decision-making, the administration aims to mitigate the risks to farmers and ensure agricultural sustainability even under adverse weather conditions.
