Telangana gears up for El Niño awareness drive as rainfall dips across districts

Hyderabad: Telangana is mobilising its administrative machinery to raise awareness about El Niño and its potential fallout on agriculture as the state grapples with significant rainfall shortages. Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju has coordinated preparations for a series of district-level programmes through a video conference with District Collectors and Special Officers stationed at the Secretariat.

The State Cabinet has mandated these awareness sessions to address the dual challenge of insufficient rainfall and anticipated El Niño impacts. Ministers-in-Charge will traverse the ten erstwhile districts, evaluating local conditions on the ground, engaging with farming communities and key stakeholders, and proposing strategies to cushion the effects of poor rainfall.

Jaju has instructed all Special Officers to be present at the district meetings scheduled for July 20. The initiative seeks to equip farmers with knowledge about El Niño phenomena and safeguard their agricultural interests. Given that most districts in Telangana are already experiencing acute rainfall deficits, the Chief Secretary has emphasised the need for officials to disseminate information on contingency approaches. He has also called for promoting diversified cropping patterns as a mechanism to mitigate risk and sustain farmer incomes.

The full-day programme will deliver scientific and technical counsel to the farming sector. Farmers will have the opportunity to interact directly with domain experts and government representatives, enabling them to comprehend prevailing weather patterns, resolve uncertainties, and make well-informed decisions regarding crop selection and planning.

Jaju has mandated District Collectors from each erstwhile district to attend these sessions. Senior representatives from Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Irrigation and allied departments have been directed to participate actively. Collectors and Special Officers are tasked with comprehensive logistical arrangements to facilitate broad-based involvement from farmers, elected representatives, agricultural researchers, scientists, field extension workers, media personnel and other relevant parties.

The video conference saw participation from Special Chief Secretaries Vikas Raj, Dana Kishore, Navin Mittal and Benhur Ekka, alongside Agriculture Secretary Surendra Mohan and other key officials.