Parliament Question: Impact of El Nino on Agricultural Production

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3891 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11TH AUGUST, 2026 IMPACT OF EL NINO ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION 3891. DR. D RAVI KUMAR: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has assessed the likely impact of El Niño on agricultural production in Tamil Nadu; (b) the measures taken to promote drought-resilient crops and micro-irrigation; (c) whether additional crop insurance and compensation measures are proposed; and (d) the details of awareness programmes conducted for farmers? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a): Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is continuously monitoring the evolving monsoon situation and the possible impact of El Niño conditions on agriculture in the country, including in Tamil Nadu, in close coordination with the India Meteorological Department (IMD), various Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) institutions, ICAR- Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Central Water Commission (CWC), Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC), the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), the Department of Fertilisers (DoF) and State Governments. Further, the sowing operations for Kharif 2026-27 are still underway in Tamil Nadu, and the first advance estimates for all major Kharif crops in the 2026-27 agricultural year (July–June) have not yet been released. (b): The Government has laid special emphasis on promoting drought-resilient agriculture through crop diversification, cultivation of short-duration and drought-tolerant crop varieties, balanced use of fertilizers, water conservation practices, micro-irrigation, mulching, inter-cropping and other climate-resilient technologies. In view of the anticipated impact of El Niño conditions during Kharif 2026, farmers have been advised to shift from crops likely to be affected, to other short-duration crops. Further, assistance is being provided under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana – Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) for installation of micro-irrigation systems to improve water-use efficiency at the farm level. During 2026-27, Rs. 255.64 crores has been allocated to the State of Tamil Nadu for implementation of the PDMC Scheme and Rs.127.82 Crores has been released by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. A nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyaan was organised during 1-30 June, 2026 in which 80,67,300 farmers participated in 1,14,567 programmes which were organised to promote water conservation, introduce efficient irrigation and climate-resilient farming practices.The Central Water Commission and State Governments have been advised to undertake advance planning for optimum utilization of reservoir water and promote efficient irrigation practices. Department of Rural Development is utilising Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB G Ram G) funds for rejuvenating water structures – such as farm ponds, check dams, canal desilting, and bori bandhans – to trap every drop of early or residual rainfall. Further, as part of the climate resilient agricultural practices, the Department is also implementing various Schemes viz. the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Kisan Credit Card (KCC), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Integrated Scheme on Oilseeds Mission, Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses and other existing programmes across the country. The District Agriculture Contingency Plan (DACP) has been prepared in consultation with the State Government of Tamil Nadu wherein suggestion for cultivation of short-duration and drought-tolerant crop varieties, balanced use of fertilizers, water conservation practices, micro-irrigation, mulching, inter-cropping and other climate- resilient technologies has been made. (c): The Government has strengthened preparedness to safeguard farmers against potential crop losses, particularly in view of the anticipated El Niño conditions during Kharif 2026. Under the existing crop insurance framework, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) continue to provide financial protection to farmers against crop losses arising from natural calamities and adverse weather events. PMFBY offers comprehensive insurance coverage from the pre-sowing stage to the post-harvest period, covering both widespread and localized risks. The implementation of these schemes remains voluntary for States/UTs and farmers and is carried out for notified crops and districts as identified by the respective State Governments. As per the National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM), the State Government is primarily responsible for providing necessary relief measures on ground level in the wake of notified calamities including cyclones. The State Governments undertake relief measures in the wake of natural calamities from funds available in the form of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) in accordance with the Government of India approved items and norms. Additional financial assistance, over and above SDRF, is considered from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as per laid down procedure, in case of disaster of ‘severe nature’, which includes an assessment based on the visit of an Inter- Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) and a memorandum for assistance under NDRF submitted by the State Government. The financial assistance provided under SDRF and NDRF is by way of relief and not for compensation of losses suffered/ claimed. The details of fund allocation under SDRF State-wise during 2026-27 to 2030-31 (under the XVIth Finance Commission) as provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs is given at Annexure. (d): The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India continuously undertakes awareness programmes in collaboration with the State Governments and with active involvement of Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA), Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Krishi Vigyan Kendras to educate farmers on modern agricultural practices and enhance crop productivity, production and farmers’ income. The "Khet Bachao Abhiyan” has been undertaken from 1 June to 30 June, 2026 across the country to create awareness among farmers about balanced and judicious use of fertilizers, reduce excessive application of DAP and urea to minimize the cost of cultivation. During the Abhiyan, more than 10 thousand programmes were organized in the State of Tamil Nadu involving approx. 3 lakhs farmers and other stakeholders.A Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Support to State Extension Programs for Extension Reforms” (ATMA) is being implemented in 734 districts of 28 states & 5 UTs in the country, including all the 37 districts of Tamil Nadu. The Scheme promotes a decentralized and farmer-friendly extension system in the country. The objective of the Scheme is to support State Government’s efforts and to make available latest agricultural technologies and good agricultural practices in different thematic areas of agriculture and allied areas to farmers through different extension activities viz; Farmers Training, Demonstrations, Exposure Visits, Kisan Mela, Mobilization of Farmers Groups and organizing Farm Schools etc. During 2025-26, Rs. 43.70 Crores had been released under ATMA Scheme to Tamil Nadu, against which an expenditure of Rs. 43.55 Crores was incurred, benefitting more than 4 lakhs farmers in the State. During 2026-27, an allocation of Rs. 44.45 Crores has been made for Tamil Nadu.Annexure Annexure referred in reply to Part (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3891 due for reply on 11.08.2026 State-wise Annual SDRF Allocation (In Rs. crore) State 2026-27 2027-28 2028-29 2029-30 2030-31 Total Andhra Pradesh 1,182 1,241 1,303 1,368 1,439 6,533 Arunachal 99 104 109 114 121 547 Pradesh Assam 843 885 929 975 1,028 4,660 Bihar 2,628 2,759 2,897 3,042 3,196 14,522 Chhattisgarh 479 503 528 554 582 2,646 Goa 22 23 24 25 25 119 Gujarat 1,633 1,715 1,801 I ,891 1,982 9,022 Haryana 564 592 622 653 686 3,117 Himachal Pradesh 431 453 476 500 524 2,384 Jharkhand 542 569 597 627 658 2,993 Karnataka 1,239 1,301 1,366 1,434 1,507 6,847 Kerala 374 393 413 434 450 2,064 Madhya Pradesh 2,258 2,371 2,490 2,615 2,743 12,477 Maharashtra 5,718 6,004 6,304 6,619 6,952 31,597 Manipur 42 44 46 48 50 230 Meghalaya 70 74 78 82 84 388 Mizoram 46 48 50 53 55 252 Nagaland 66 69 72 76 79 362 Odisha 1,718 1,804 1,894 1,989 2,088 9,493 Punjab 478 502 527 553 582 2,642 Rajasthan 1,778 1,867 1,960 2,058 2,162 9,825 Sikkim 73 77 81 85 88 404 Tamil Nadu 1,638 1,720 1,806 1,896 1,991 9,051 Telangana 536 563 591 621 648 2,959 Tripura 57 60 63 66 70 316 Uttar Pradesh 2,957 3,105 3,260 3,423 3,597 16,342 Uttarakhand 797 837 879 923 967 4,403 West Bengal 1,326 1,392 1,462 1,535 1,611 7,326 Total 29,594 31,075 32,628 34,259 35,965 1,63,521 Source: Ministry of Home Affairs *****