Minister Reviews Kharif Preparedness, Plans Strategy for Possible El Niño Impact

New Delhi, Jun 16 (KNN) Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired a high-level review meeting to assess preparedness for the Kharif 2026 season, with a focus on contingency planning for possible El Niño conditions, cotton production and achieving self-reliance in pulses.

The Minister reviewed district-wise preparedness, fertiliser availability, reservoir status, mandi prices and crop-wise sowing plans. He directed officials to identify districts likely to face low or uneven rainfall and prepare crop-specific contingency plans in coordination with state governments.

Special emphasis was placed on water conservation, moisture management, inter-cropping and alternative cropping patterns to minimise the impact of adverse weather conditions. 

The Agriculture ministry will also hold coordinated meetings with district administrations, agriculture departments and Krishi Vigyan Kendras in states expected to be more vulnerable to El Niño.

To boost domestic production, Chouhan directed officials to launch a mission-mode drive to increase cotton output through scientific cultivation practices, improved seed varieties, inter-cropping and moisture conservation measures.

The Minister also reviewed progress under the government's pulses self-reliance initiative, stressing expansion of cultivation area, better seed availability and technical support for farmers to increase production of pigeon pea, black gram and moong, while reducing import dependence.

Chouhan also called for stronger coordination among agricultural universities, institutions under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and state agriculture departments to ensure timely dissemination of technical knowledge and field-level support to farmers during the Kharif season.

(KNN Bureau)