Centre identifies 315 districts at risk as monsoon deficit and El Niño concerns grow
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The Union Agriculture Ministry has identified 315 districts across India that could face adverse impacts from below-normal rainfall and potential El Niño conditions, as the southwest monsoon remained 43 per cent below normal up to June 23.
The ministry has directed states to activate contingency plans to protect the upcoming kharif cropping season and minimise the impact of rainfall shortages.
The 315 districts were classified according to irrigation coverage, which the government considers a key indicator of resilience to rainfall deficits. Of these, 111 districts with less than 25 per cent irrigation coverage were categorised as highly vulnerable. Another 76 districts with irrigation coverage between 25 and 50 per cent were placed in the medium-vulnerability category, while 128 districts with irrigation coverage above 50 per cent were considered relatively less vulnerable.
The most vulnerable districts are concentrated mainly in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Other at-risk districts are spread across Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Bihar, Jharkhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. Maharashtra alone accounts for around 20 districts in the highest-risk category.
Government data for June 1-24 shows deficient rainfall across large parts of the country. Significant shortfalls have been recorded in parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Telangana, and Karnataka. In contrast, western Rajasthan, parts of the Northeast, and a few isolated districts elsewhere have received normal to excess rainfall.
The uneven distribution of rainfall has raised concerns about moisture stress during the crucial sowing period for kharif crops.
To mitigate the impact of a weak monsoon, the Centre has advised states to encourage the cultivation of pulses, millets, and oilseeds, which require less water than many traditional crops. States have also been asked to promote short-duration crop varieties that can mature within a shorter growing season.
The ministry has identified crop diversification, moisture conservation, and efficient water management as key strategies. It has also directed states to strengthen water conservation efforts through the repair of ponds, desilting of canals, rejuvenation of check dams, and expansion of water-harvesting infrastructure.
To monitor the evolving situation, the government has established an El Niño Monitoring Cell and a Crop Weather Watch Group to track rainfall patterns, sowing progress, and crop conditions in real time.