Farmers urged to cut paddy cultivation as El Nino deepens water concerns
Agricultural experts are urging farmers to reduce paddy cultivation and switch to water-efficient crops due to rainfall deficits caused by El Niño. Officials warn that relying on reservoir water for paddy carries a high risk of crop failure.
Why it matters
Climate-driven water scarcity poses a significant threat to food security and the economic stability of the agricultural sector.
With rainfall remaining below normal across the State amid the continuing impact of El Niño, Professor Jayashankar State Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor Aldas Janaiah has urged farmers to reduce paddy cultivation and shift to water-saving crops such as pulses, oilseeds and millets.
Speaking at a farmers’ seminar organised by Rythu Sangham in Nalgonda on Sunday, Mr. Janaiah advised farmers against undertaking fresh paddy transplantation based on expectations of water from the Nagarjuna Sagar and SRSP reservoirs.
He noted that the State has recorded a rainfall deficit of around 10–12%, with the shortfall touching nearly 30% in eight districts.
Farmers, however, should not panic over the rainfall deficit but should treat the situation as an opportunity to diversify their cropping patterns. For instance, farmers growing paddy on four acres should consider cultivating at least two acres with pulses, oilseeds or other dryland crops, he suggested.
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