Ongoing El Niño phenomenon has pushed Telangana Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy to tell farmers to tweak their practices this Kharif season. With southwest monsoon faltering,rainfall way below normal,he stressed prioritizing drinking water over irrigation in state's water strategy.
While visiting Huzurnagar and Kodad constituencies in Suryapet Friday,Reddy noted much of Godavari river basin is in Maharashtra,also hit by low rainfall. This has delayed water flows into Telangana. He mentioned India saw nearly 40% below-normal rainfall last month, one of driest Junes in years. Telangana had about 22% less rainfall,hurting sowing activities across state.
Reddy urged farmers in water-scarce areas to grow crops needing less water, able to withstand heat, instead of traditional thirsty varieties. He stressed watching weather patterns closely,adjusting practices to lessen El Niño's impact .
At Annual Action Plan program at College of Horticulture in Rajendranagar,D. Raji Reddy, Vice-Chancellor of Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University,echoed these views . He advised farmers to focus on eco-friendly crops like vegetables, cereals, oilseeds, pulses—more resilient to rainfall shifts from El Niño. He suggested shifting to horticultural crops could turn El Niño challenges into opportunities.
Government is watching rainfall,reservoir levels closely, ready to act as conditions change. As Kharif season rolls on,focus stays on sustainable practices to weather current climate hurdles…
