AP Records 69% Rainfall Deficit In July

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday directed officials to extend comprehensive support to farmers in view of the looming El Niño-induced drought conditions in Andhra Pradesh.

During a review meeting at the secretariat, officials informed the CM that AP recorded a 69 per cent rainfall deficit in July and rainfall during the next three months is expected to remain 35–40 per cent below normal.

Against the normal rainfall of 844mm between June and November, the state is likely to receive only around 551mm this season, officials said.

They warned that the impact of El Niño could be more severe than earlier anticipated, affecting all districts, with West Godavari, Prakasam, Annamayya, Krishna and YSR Kadapa likely to face acute drought conditions.

Around 2.78 lakh hectares of cotton and 1.07 lakh hectares of paddy are projected to be affected, with Srikakulam expected to witness the highest losses in paddy cultivation.

Naidu, in response, called for timely advisories, alternative cropping plans and strict implementation of crop insurance coverage.

The chief minister asked officials to establish a dedicated El Niño control room for continuous monitoring, scientific analysis of weather conditions and issuing location-specific advisories to farmers.

Naidu directed officials to make optimum use of Vamsadhara river waters wherever available to safeguard standing crops. He also asked them to explore borewell-based irrigation facilities in 122 high-risk mandals identified across the state.

The CM announced that awareness campaigns to promote alternative crops would begin from August 3. Officials will focus on encouraging farmers to shift from water-intensive paddy cultivation to crops such as red gram, castor and black gram, besides implementing an emergency seed plan.

Naidu said every cultivated crop must be insured and warned that District Collectors would be held responsible if any farmer’s crop was left uncovered. Officials said enrolment under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme would continue, with 6.30 lakh hectares already insured. Paddy farmers have time until August 15 for enrolment.

The CM also instructed officials to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply across the state and increase fodder reserves. Though officials informed Naidu that 286.30 lakh metric tonnes of fodder, sufficient for five months, had been arranged, he asked them to prepare stocks adequate for a full year considering the possibility of prolonged El Niño conditions.

Officials, he said, must identify stressed crop areas, assess groundwater availability and provide farmer-specific guidance through Rythu Seva Kendras (RSKs). Livestock protection, dairy farming and natural farming should be promoted and milk production should not decline.