**Executive Summary**
The Government of India has implemented a comprehensive strategy to manage the Kharif season amid El Niño-related monsoon uncertainty. High-level weekly reviews are monitoring rainfall recovery and sowing progress across 14 key states to mitigate agricultural risks. Key interventions include maintaining a national seed reserve of 1.75 lakh quintals and accelerating financial support through insurance and credit schemes to protect farmers from potential crop losses.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Monsoon and Sowing Status**
* The rainfall deficit improved from 33% in June to 24% in July, with the number of rainfall-deficient districts dropping from 262 to 178.
* Kharif sowing has reached 350.85 lakh hectares, which is approximately 91.95 lakh hectares lower than the same period last year.
* Delayed monsoon onset has specifically hindered the sowing of soybean and cotton.
**Proactive Contingency Planning**
* Contingency plans for high-risk districts, developed with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, were distributed to states as early as April.
* The ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ reached over 80 lakh farmers via 1.24 lakh programs conducted in June.
* Agricultural advisories recommend shifting to short-duration and low water-intensive crops such as maize, Bajra, and Moong to mitigate rainfall delays.
**Resource Management and Financial Support**
* A national seed reserve of 1.75 lakh quintals is being maintained to ensure seed availability for all circumstances.
* The Kisan Credit Card campaign has been intensified, with 94,000 applications approved out of 1.14 lakh received by June 30.
* Efforts are underway to increase farmer enrollment in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana for financial protection against adverse weather.
**Monitoring and Surveillance Mechanisms**
* Specific monitoring is focused on 14 states, including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
* Continuous oversight is provided by the El Niño Monitoring Cell, Crop Weather Watch Group, and State-level Control Rooms.
* Designated officers are tracking monsoon progress, crop conditions, and market trends to facilitate timely interventions.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers**
**Impact**
They face increased vulnerability due to delayed rainfall, particularly those sowing soybean and cotton.
**Action Required**
Adopt short-duration/low-water crops as advised and utilize available financial protections like the Kisan Credit Card and PM Fasal Bima Yojana.
**State Governments**
**Impact**
They are responsible for ground-level execution of contingency plans and continuous monitoring of local agricultural conditions.
**Action Required**
Operate State-level Control Rooms and collaborate with the Centre to implement district-specific contingency plans shared earlier in the year.
**Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare**
**Impact**
Tasked with national coordination, resource allocation, and maintaining the national seed reserve.
**Action Required**
Conduct weekly high-level reviews and manage the El Niño Monitoring Cell to ensure timely interventions and resource availability.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare: The primary government body coordinating the multi-pronged strategy and high-level reviews to address El Niño threats and Kharif preparedness.
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan: Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare leading the proactive planning and monitoring of the monsoon's impact on agriculture.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana: A national crop insurance scheme being intensified to provide financial protection to farmers against potential crop losses from adverse weather.
Kisan Credit Card: A financial support initiative whose application and approval campaign has been intensified to ensure credit availability for farmers.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research: The technical body collaborating with the government to prepare district-specific contingency plans for areas likely to be affected by rainfall deficits.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Centre Intensifies Preparedness as El Niño
Threat Looms; Weekly Reviews Underway
Monsoon Recovery Brings Relief, Government Steps Up
Kharif Readiness
Proactive Planning, Swift Action: Centre Moves to Protect
Farmers from Monsoon Uncertainty
Comprehensive Kharif Preparedness Underway with Seed
Reserves, Crop Advisory and Insurance Support
Government's Multi-Pronged Strategy Aims to Shield
Farmers from Monsoon Challenges
Prepared, Proactive and Vigilant: Centre Strengthens Kharif
Response Under PM Modi's Leadership
प्रव तथ: 08 JUL 2026 3:20PM by PIB Delhi
Amid uncertainty in the southwest monsoon due to the potential impact of El Niño, the Government of
India, under the leadership PM Shri Narendra Modi, is addressing the situation with comprehensive
preparedness, a clear strategy, and strong ground-level action. While challenges remain, the entire system
has been activated in advance and is working proactively to mitigate their impact.
Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
said that after recording a 33% rainfall deficit in June, the monsoon situation has shown improvement in
July, with the overall deficit narrowing to 24%. He added that several parts of the country have received
good rainfall in recent days, resulting in the number of rainfall-deficient districts declining from 262 to
178.
Addressing the media in New Delhi after a high-level review meeting, Shri Chouhan said that the Centre
is maintaining close monitoring of the situation in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh,
Rajasthan, Karnataka, Bihar, Jharkhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, West Bengal, and Odisha.
He expressed confidence that rainfall would gain further momentum during July, leading to an
acceleration in Kharif sowing.
The Union Minister informed that Kharif sowing has so far been completed over 350.85 lakh hectares,
which is approximately 91.95 lakh hectares lower than the corresponding period last year. He said that the
delayed onset of the monsoon has particularly affected soybean and cotton sowing. However, farmershave been advised to cultivate short-duration and low water-intensive crops such as maize, Bajra, and
Moong to minimise the impact of delayed rainfall.
Shri Chouhan said that the Government had initiated preparations for this challenge as early as April. In
collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, contingency plans were prepared for
districts likely to be affected and shared with state governments well in advance. As part of the 'Khet
Bachao Abhiyan' conducted in June, more than 1.24 lakh programs were organised across the country,
directly reaching over 80 lakh farmers.
The Union Minister said that to ensure uninterrupted sowing operations, the Government has maintained a
national seed reserve of approximately 1.75 lakh quintals, ensuring adequate seed availability under all
circumstances. He further stated that the Kisan Credit Card campaign has been intensified, with more than
94,000 applications approved out of 1.14 lakh applications received by June 30.
Shri Chouhan also said that efforts are being intensified to increase farmers' participation under the
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, ensuring financial protection for farmers in the event of crop losses
due to adverse weather conditions.
Highlighting the Government's preparedness, Shri Chouhan said that an extensive monitoring mechanism
has been put in place keeping the possibility of El Niño in view. The El Niño Monitoring Cell, Crop
Weather Watch Group, State-level Control Rooms, and designated officers are continuously monitoring
the progress of the monsoon, crop sowing, crop conditions, and market trends.
The Union Minister said that the Government is not only monitoring the evolving situation but is fully
equipped to address every challenge through well-defined processes, adequate resources, and timely
interventions, ensuring that farmers receive all necessary support during the Kharif season.
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RC/MS
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