Govt says El Nino risk to farm output manageable, cites irrigation, reservoirs, seed buffers

The government on Saturday said the potential impact of El Nino weather conditions on India’s agriculture sector this year is expected to remain limited, citing stronger irrigation coverage, healthy water reserves and improved preparedness across the farming system.

The assessment came during a review meeting on preparations for the kharif crop season , chaired by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan , ahead of the southwest monsoon that typically begins in June and accounts for a major share of India’s annual farm output.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast below-normal monsoon rainfall in 2026 at around 92 per cent of the long-period average , while warning that El Nino conditions may develop during the monsoon season . A final forecast is expected in late May.

Reassuring farmers, Chouhan said the government was proceeding with complete preparedness . “Farmers need not have any concerns,” he said, adding that authorities were fully prepared to respond to any weather-related challenges.

Officials said reservoir storage levels across the country currently stand at about 127 per cent of the normal level , providing a strong buffer for irrigation needs during the upcoming sowing season.

The government also confirmed that seed stocks for both kharif and rabi seasons have been secured above requirement levels, with emergency reserves available if farmers need to replant crops or switch varieties due to adverse weather.

Officials noted that India is better prepared than during earlier El Nino episodes between 2000 and 2016, when agriculture depended more heavily on rainfall. Since then, the country has expanded micro-irrigation networks, introduced climate-resilient seeds and strengthened early warning systems.

A crop-weather monitoring mechanism is already operational, with close coordination between the Centre and states. Chouhan directed states to activate contingency plans at the district level and promote drought-tolerant varieties and delayed sowing strategies if rainfall weakens.

El Nino, a periodic warming of Pacific Ocean waters, can disrupt monsoon patterns that provide nearly 70 per cent of India’s annual rainfall , making them critical for agriculture and rural livelihoods.