Prepare drought-hit mandal proposals, use multiple indicators to estimate severity: Telangana Agriculture Minister

Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao directed officials to prepare proposals on the mandals under impact of drought, in coordination with Revenue Department officials, in view of prevailing rainfall conditions.

At a meeting with officials of Marketing Federation and Telangana State Co-Operative Oilseeds Growers Federation Ltd in Hyderabad on Thursday, the Minister discussed the impact of El Nino, indicators to be considered to estimate drought severity, measures needed to provide financial relief to farmers and other aspects.

Besides Union Agriculture Ministry’s guidelines on drought which includes rainfall deficit, other indicators would be considered including difference in rainfall, soil moisture, dry season, extent of area sown, reservoir levels, groundwater levels, fodder availability, drinking water, employment, migration, and others, the Minister said, adding that information from Agriculture department has to be provided to Revenue department.