Govt urges farmers to conserve water

metro india news  I hyderabad : In view of the severe conditions expected due to the impact of El Niño across the country, the State government has appealed to farmers to use water and energy resources extremely judiciously. As part of the Rythu Nestham programme, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao and Ponnam Prabhakar, along with Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju interacted through a video conference with District Collectors, officials from various departments, and farmers who participated from Rythu Vedikas across all districts on Monday. The discussion focused on measures to be taken in view of El Niño.

Speaking on the occasion, Bhatti Vikramarka said that, according to reports from the World Meteorological Organization, the impact of El Niño is likely to reach its peak by December, and such conditions could continue until 2027. He stated that several parts of the world are likely to face difficulties due to high temperatures and low rainfall, affecting both the general public and farmers. Bhatti Vikramarka added that there are no clear indications of rainfall in the State until June or July next year.

Under these circumstances, the Deputy Chief Minister made it clear that the State’s available water resources should be reserved exclusively for drinking-water needs. All government departments must work together to address drinking-water shortages, potential food-grain scarcity, and the provision of fodder and water for livestock, he said.

Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao advised farmers to avoid cultivating paddy and cotton during the current Rabi season. The Minister recommended cultivating rain-fed crops and short-duration crops, adding that seeds for rain-fed crops are being supplied at subsidised prices. Farmers should opt for crops that require very little water and can be harvested within a short period, he said.

The Minister announced that an emergency Cabinet meeting would be convened to discuss the El Niño situation and the possibility of taking a high-level delegation to the Centre. Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju stated that the State had recorded a rainfall deficit of approximately 20 per cent compared with the previous monsoon season. He said that all 33 districts in the state had received below-normal rainfall.