AP Steps Up El Niño Preparedness, Says Agriculture Minister Atchannaidu

Andhra Pradesh has initiated a comprehensive strategy to protect farmers and crops from possible drought conditions linked to El Niño, with the government beginning preparedness measures months in advance, Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu said.

He said the government began its El Niño preparedness in February 2026, while Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the ‘Jaladhara’ programme in April. Under ‘Jaladhara–Jalaharathi’, 79,826 works costing Rs 3,409.35 crore have been completed, reportedly raising groundwater levels by 0.79 metres. Around 625 TMC of groundwater is currently available in the state, he said.

Atchannaidu said crop insurance coverage had also been significantly expanded. Insurance applications increased from 19.5 lakh in 2025 to 35.15 lakh in 2026, while the number of non-loanee farmers covered rose from two lakh to 27.5 lakh. Crops worth around Rs 16,000 crore have been insured this year, with 6.30 lakh hectares covered under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and RWBCIS.

The state is implementing a five-pronged El Niño mitigation strategy involving farm-level risk assessment, PMDS and seed pelleting, crop selection according to water availability, the ‘Rythanna Mee Kosam–El Niño Mitigation Plan’ and crop insurance.

The minister said rainfall between June and August was only 170.9 mm against the normal 350 mm, resulting in a 51.2% deficit. Of the state’s 8,489 Rythu Seva Kendras, 1,357 have been identified as high-risk and 2,077 as moderate-risk centres. Satellite data, APGS inputs and field inspections are being used to classify farms as normal, watch or alert and issue crop-specific advisories.

The government is promoting pulses, millets and short-duration crops in place of water-intensive paddy where water availability is limited. About 47,321 quintals of seeds have been prepared initially, with another 1.12 lakh quintals kept ready. Around 23 lakh farmers covering 25 lakh acres are adopting PMDS and seed-pelleting practices.

The mitigation plan launched on August 7 covers 46.86 lakh farmers and 2.75 crore farm plots. Fodder reserves equivalent to five months are available, while animal shelters are proposed to increase from 15,303 to 20,000.

Atchannaidu said micro-irrigation was also being expanded after clearing around Rs 1,100 crore in pending dues. The government is planning a Rs 1 lakh crore horticulture hub in Rayalaseema, involving an estimated Rs 40,000 crore public-sector and Rs 60,000 crore private-sector investment.

He said the government was also monitoring water resources and climate risks in horticulture, livestock, fisheries and sericulture, with the stated objective of protecting farmers and crops through advance planning and scientific intervention.