Government Prepares Contingency Plans for 315 Districts as Rain Deficit Hits 42%

The Centre has prepared contingency plans for 315 districts as rainfall during the current monsoon season remains below normal, as per The Reuters report.  

India recorded a 42% rainfall deficit up to 23 June, prompting the agriculture ministry to review crop and water availability across states ahead of the peak kharif sowing period. 

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday held a meeting with state ministers, officials and scientists to assess preparedness in areas that may face rainfall shortages. The government has asked states to keep district-level plans ready and monitor local conditions closely. 

Districts Categorised by Irrigation Coverage 

The agriculture ministry and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) identified the districts using data on rainfall, irrigation coverage and climatic conditions.  

The exercise was carried out to assess areas that could face difficulties if rainfall remains below normal in the coming weeks. 

Of the 315 districts, 111 have been placed in the high-priority category, where less than 25% of farmland has irrigation facilities. The other 76 districts have irrigation coverage between 25% and 50%. The remaining 128 districts have relatively better irrigation support through reservoirs, canals, and other sources. 

The districts are spread across several states, including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Bihar, Jharkhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. 

Measures Suggested for States 

States have been advised to promote crops that require less water in rain-fed areas. These include pulses, millets, and oilseeds. ICAR has also prepared district-specific plans recommending alternative crops and changes in sowing schedules based on local conditions. 

The Centre has asked states to repair ponds, check dams, and other water-harvesting structures. Water conservation works have also been identified as a priority in vulnerable districts. 

Monsoon Progress and Sowing 

According to the India Meteorological Department, rainfall so far has been around 43% below average, with below-normal rainfall expected during the week ending 2 July. The weather office had earlier forecast an El Niño-influenced monsoon season. 

Despite the rainfall deficit, kharif crops had been sown across 11.99 million hectares as of 22 June, compared with 11.79 million hectares a year earlier. Soybean sowing, however, remains below last year's level.  

The government has set a foodgrain production target of around 176 million tonnes for the 2026 kharif season. 

Read More: India, Israel Sign MoU to Deepen Collaboration in Public Sector Audits! 

Conclusion 

The contingency plans focus on crop selection, irrigation management, and water conservation in districts considered most exposed to a prolonged shortfall in monsoon rainfall. 

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