Telangana Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy Orders Statewide El Niño Contingency Plans to Protect Farmers
Telangana Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has directed officials to prepare statewide El Niño contingency plans and coordinate with key departments to protect farmers during the monsoon.
With forecasts indicating the possibility of El Niño influencing the current monsoon, Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy directed officials to prepare comprehensive statewide contingency plans to tackle any challenges arising from the weather phenomenon. Chairing a high-level review meeting at the Secretariat on Thursday, the Minister instructed officials to coordinate with the Irrigation, Agriculture, and Meteorological departments to minimise risks to agriculture and safeguard farmers’ livelihoods.
Table of Contents
Uttam Kumar Reddy Reviews El Niño Preparedness
During the high-level review meeting at the Secretariat, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said Telangana could not remain immune if El Niño affected the country.
He said the government is continuously monitoring weather developments and has already placed the concerned departments and official agencies on alert.
The Minister assured that there is no reason for farmers to panic, as comprehensive contingency measures are being put in place to respond quickly to any emerging situation.
District and State-Level Contingency Plans Ordered
The Minister directed officials to prepare detailed contingency plans at both the State and district levels, considering:
- Rainfall projections
- Groundwater availability
- Reservoir storage
- Irrigation potential
- Local cropping patterns
He said every district should have a clear response strategy to deal with deficient rainfall or prolonged dry spells.
Video Conference with District Collectors
Following the review meeting, Uttam Kumar Reddy held a video conference with:
- District Collectors
- Senior officials of the Irrigation Department
- Senior officials of the Agriculture Department
- Senior officials of the Horticulture Department
He instructed them to immediately begin district-specific preparedness measures and maintain continuous coordination at the field level.
IMD Forecasts Must Reach Farmers Quickly
The Minister directed officials to closely monitor the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts, advisories and warnings.
He said scientific weather information should be quickly converted into practical guidance for farmers through coordinated efforts of the:
- Meteorology Department
- Agriculture Department
- Horticulture Department
- Irrigation Department
He stressed that scientific information must reach cultivators without delay.
Promote Climate-Resilient Farming
Emphasising scientific crop planning, Uttam Kumar Reddy advised farmers not to depend exclusively on traditional water-intensive crops where water availability is uncertain.
Instead, he instructed officials to promote alternative crops based on:
- Expected rainfall
- Available irrigation resources
He also directed that:
- Gram Sabhas
- Rythu Vedikas
- Field-level extension programmes
should be widely used to create awareness among farmers about suitable cropping choices and climate-resilient farming practices.
Transparent Information on Water Availability
The Minister instructed officials to provide transparent information on:
- Reservoir storage
- Water availability
He said this would help farmers make informed cultivation decisions.
He further directed agricultural scientists to ensure that technical recommendations on crop selection and cultivation practices reach every farmer well before critical sowing decisions.
Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has directed officials to prepare statewide El Niño contingency plans to protect Telangana’s farmers from possible monsoon-related challenges. During a high-level review meeting at the Secretariat, followed by a video conference with District Collectors and senior officials, he called for coordinated action among the Irrigation, Agriculture, Horticulture and Meteorological departments, district-specific preparedness plans, scientific crop planning, transparent information on water availability, and timely dissemination of IMD forecasts to farmers.
Follow MunsifNews24x7 for latest updates.
