Parliament Question: Support for Dryland Farmers

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5134 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24TH MARCH, 2026 SUPPORT FOR DRYLAND FARMERS 5134. SHRI VAMSI KRISHNA GADDAM: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष और (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण म(cid:287)ं ी be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware that large areas in Mancherial and Jagtial districts of Telangana fall under dryland agricultural zones and are highly vulnerable to low rainfall, climate variability and recurrent drought conditions; (b) whether the Government has undertaken any district-specific assessment of crop productivity, farmer distress and climate vulnerability in the dryland regions of Mancherial and Jagtial; (c) whether the Government proposes to introduce special support programmes for dryland farmers in these districts, including promotion of drought-resilient crops, expansion of micro-irrigation, soil health improvement measures and establishment of custom-hiring centres; and (d) the steps being taken to safeguard the livelihoods of farmers in the drought-prone regions of Mancherial and Jagtial districts? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a) & (b): As per district-level risk and vulnerability assessment undertaken by Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the parent district of Mancherial, i.e., Adilabad, has been categorized as high vulnerability and high risk, while the parent district of Jagtial, i.e., Karimnagar, has been categorized as medium vulnerability and medium risk. As reported by State Government of Telangana regular assessment of crop productivity, rainfall, and soil health is undertaken at district and mandal levels through Crop Cutting Experiments (CCE), field monitoring, and the Soil Health Card Scheme. The identified rainfed mandals are continuously monitored, and necessary advisories and interventions are provided.(c) & (d): Special support measures are being implemented to support dryland farmers and safeguard their livelihoods in these districts. These include distribution of maize and pulses seeds under National Food Security Mission (NFSM), promotion of micro-irrigation namely drip and sprinkler systems through Per Drop More Crop schemes, establishment of farm ponds and check dams under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), restoration of tanks under Mission Kakatiya, and farm mechanization support along with Custom Hiring Centres under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization. The Soil Health and Fertility scheme is also implemented to assist states in promoting Integrated Nutrient Management through balanced and judicious use of fertilizers. In addition, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) has undertaken interventions under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) programme in Mancherial district of Telangana State. During 2021–26, improved and location-specific varieties of major rainfed crops were introduced in Kotapally mandal of Mancherial district, to enhance productivity and resilience of cropping systems, along with interventions in soil health management, promotion of drought-tolerant crop varieties, and establishment of 27 Custom Hiring Centres. While certain pockets of Jagtial district fall under rainfed conditions, the district is predominantly irrigated, with about 2,67,430 acres under irrigation and about 19,956 acres under rainfed agriculture, confined to a few mandals such as Buggaram, Dharmapuri, Endapalli, Gollapalle, Pegadapalle, Velgatoor, Beerpur, Jagtial Rural, Kodimial, and Raikal; however, these areas remain vulnerable to rainfall variability and dry spells. Further, livelihood support measures include investment support under Rythu Bharosa/Rythu Bandhu, crop compensation in case of losses, strengthening of irrigation infrastructure, promotion of crop diversification, and continuous extension support with weather-based advisories, along with capacity-building and livelihood diversification activities for farmers. *****