War-footing measures to protect crops from El Niño impact

Amaravati: Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu has directed officials to take up war-footing measures to protect crops facing moisture stress amid the prevailing El Niño-induced dry conditions in Andhra Pradesh. He called for effective utilisation of every available water source and continuous field-level monitoring to minimise losses to farmers.

The Minister held a high-level review meeting on Sunday to assess El Niño conditions, rainfall, Kharif cultivation, crop health, alternative crops and measures to protect standing crops using available water resources. He assured that the government would extend all possible support to farmers and directed Agriculture and Water Resources Department officials to provide protective irrigation wherever required.

Officials informed the meeting that the State received only 218.2 mm of rainfall between June 1 and September 12, against the normal 476.1 mm, resulting in a 54.2 percent rainfall deficit.

As of September 12, Kharif crops had been cultivated over 26.50 lakh hectares, accounting for 74 per cent of the normal area and 78 per cent of last year’s cultivation by the same date. Paddy accounted for 12.01 lakh hectares, cotton 4.11 lakh hectares, red gram 2.63 lakh hectares, groundnut 1.47 lakh hectares and maize 1.08 lakh hectares.

Crop stress linked to El Niño has been reported in 284 mandals and 1,792 RSKs/villages, affecting 2,44,443 hectares. Of this, 1,92,387 hectares are under moisture stress, 41,474 hectares have reported wilting and 10,582 hectares have suffered crop drying.

Kurnool recorded the highest affected areas at 1,09,255 hectares, followed by Nandyal with 80,751 hectares and Anantapur with 32,456 hectares. Crop-wise, red gram was affected over 74,301 hectares, cotton 73,733 hectares, groundnut 25,818 hectares, maize 24,819 hectares and paddy 18,443 hectares.

Atchannaidu directed officials to focus primarily on saving crops under moisture stress and provide farmers with timely technical advice. He asked officials to regularly visit the fields instead of limiting themselves to office work.

Officials said surveys had been completed in 2.7493 crore of 2.7558 crore plots, covering 99.76 per cent. The remaining 65,233 plots should be surveyed immediately, the Minister said.

The meeting also reviewed crop-health data, with updates completed for 98.10 lakh of 1.082 crore plots. Atchannaidu directed officials to quickly clear the remaining 10.10 lakh pending updates, stressing that crop-health data was essential for identifying problems and extending timely assistance.

The Minister called for large-scale promotion of alternative, low-water crops suited to prevailing weather conditions. Alternative crops have so far been taken up in 34,567 hectares, with another 95,112 hectares to be covered.

Atchannaidu stressed continuous coordination between Agriculture and Water Resources departments to prioritise available water for protective irrigation and save every possible crop.

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