Agriculture Minister asks States to be prepared to deal with below-normal monsoon

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan (centre) addresses a press conference on ‘National Agricultural Conference - Kharif Campaign 2026’, in New Delhi on Friday

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Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday asked States to prepare for the possibility of deficient rainfall and other adverse weather conditions amid the threat of El Niño and the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) latest forecast indicating a further weakening within the “below-normal” monsoon projection for this year.The IMD on Friday said the June-September southwest monsoon over the country is likely to be 90 per cent of the long-period average (LPA) of 87 cm, with a model error margin of ±4 per cent. In April, IMD had predicted monsoon at 92 per cent of LPA.Getting ready to handle“We are monitoring the El Niño phenomenon. There is no certainty at present, but if such a situation develops and there is any delay in monsoon or prolonged dry spell, we are preparing to handle it,” Chouhan told reporters on the concluding day of the National Agriculture Conference – Kharif Campaign 2026.El Niño is a drought-bearing climate caused by abnormal warming of surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, which disrupts global weather patterns and generally leads to weaker monsoons and drought-like conditions in India.Responding to the IMD’s latest forecast, the minister said, “We are making preparations,” and asserted that the Agriculture Ministry is fully equipped to tackle any eventuality.Contingency plansAccording to an official statement, Chouhan urged States to remain prepared at the district level for deficient rainfall and other difficult conditions.The Union Agriculture Ministry, he said, is drawing up contingency plans to deal with any possible situation and has ensured adequate availability of seeds and fertilizers to meet demand during the upcoming Kharif (summer-sown) season beginning in June with the onset of the south-west monsoon.Highlighting the importance of seeds for successful cultivation, Chouhan said the government currently has adequate stocks available. Against the total requirement of 173 lakh quintals, seed stocks stand at 192 lakh quintals.He urged States to lift the available seed stocks and ensure timely distribution to farmers.Buffer stocksThe Minister said the National Seed Corporation would maintain a buffer stock of 1.74 lakh quintals to address emergency situations so that seeds can be supplied immediately to affected regions whenever required.Fertilizer stocks currently stand at 200 lakh tonnes against the total kharif requirement of 390 lakh tonnes, he said.Describing Farmer ID as the foundation of a transparent, targeted and efficient future farmer service system, Chouhan stressed the need to ensure transparency in fertilizer distribution, prevent black marketeering and guarantee proper supply to genuine farmers. He also asked States to encourage balanced fertilizer use through the ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ campaign to be conducted from June 1 to June 30.The Minister said soil health cards should not remain mere documents but must be actively used at the field level to help farmers understand nutrient deficiencies and apply fertilizers appropriately.Plea to scientistsExpressing concern over spurious seeds, substandard pesticides and defective agricultural inputs, Chouhan directed States to intensify inspections, increase sample testing, establish accredited laboratories and ensure stringent action against offenders until final conviction.Chouhan also asked States to personally review the implementation of the pulses mission, oilseeds mission, cotton mission and other major agricultural programmes.He urged scientists to undertake faster, practical and demand-driven research aligned with farmers’ needs, with particular emphasis on developing short-duration and more suitable crop varieties, especially for tur, soybean and oilseed crops.The Union Minister also asked every State to prepare its own agricultural roadmap based on agro-climatic conditions, available resources and local potential.Timely access to fundsOn agricultural credit and Kisan Credit Cards, Chouhan said timely access to finance is crucial for profitable farming. He acknowledged that while some States have performed well in agricultural credit flow, many parts of eastern and north-eastern India continue to lag behind.He announced that discussions with banks would soon be initiated in coordination with States to expand access to agricultural credit.Chouhan informed that 20 state agriculture ministers, along with government officials, ICAR scientists and representatives from agricultural universities, are participating in the conference to deliberate on strategies for the forthcoming Kharif season.Published on May 29, 2026