Centre Reviews Kharif Preparedness Amid El Niño Concerns

The Centre reviewed Kharif preparedness and rolled out contingency planning for 315 districts vulnerable to weak monsoon conditions.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired a high-level virtual meeting with state Agriculture Ministers, District Collectors, ICAR, ICAR-CRIDA and IMD officials. The government identified 315 districts as potentially affected by weak monsoon conditions, including 111 high-priority districts with irrigation coverage below 25%. States were advised to promote short-duration, low-water crops such as pulses, millets and oilseeds. The Centre also emphasised District Agriculture Contingency Plans, water conservation works, fertiliser availability, PMFBY, KCC and PM-KISAN support for farmers.