The State government has directed the District Collectors to take immediate steps to implement the contingency crop plan prepared in view of the anticipated rainfall deficiency.

The government reiterated the need for crop diversification and called for sustained efforts to sensitise farmers on the importance of choosing crops that require comparatively less water and are better suited to the prevailing climatic conditions.

Ministers N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Tummala Nageswara Rao and Jupally Krishna Rao along with Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju gave the directions during a video conference with the District Collectors on Friday to review the impact of El Nino conditions and the deficient rainfall in the State.

Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy exhorted the District Collectors to make all-out efforts to wean farmers away from excessive dependence on paddy cultivation. Farmers should be properly sensitised about the availability of water and the risks associated with cultivating water-intensive crops under deficient rainfall conditions. Awareness camps should be conducted at the field level to encourage farmers to take up pulses, oilseeds, vegetables and other horticultural crops as part of the crop diversification strategy. Farmers should be provided with necessary technical guidance and information so that they can make informed decisions regarding alternative crops.

He said the contingency plans should not be confined to the district level and should reach the mandal and village levels. Agriculture and allied departments should work in close coordination with the district administration to ensure that farmers were adequately informed about suitable alternative crops and the available support mechanisms.

Mr. Nageswara Rao wanted convening of the meetings of the Irrigation Advisory Boards at district level at the earliest. The meetings should assess the availability of water in reservoirs, irrigation projects and other sources and communicate the water availability position clearly to farmers. This would enable farmers to plan their crops appropriately and avoid taking up water-intensive crops in areas where irrigation water availability is limited.

Panchayat Raj Special Chief Secretary Dana Kishore briefed about the construction of integrated farm ponds through self-help groups.

(eom)

Published - August 07, 2026 08:50 pm IST