Govt Ready to Tackle El Nino Threat During Kharif Season: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday said the government is fully prepared to deal with any possible impact of El Nino during the upcoming kharif season. He said emergency plans would be prepared for districts likely to be affected by El Niño and crop patterns could also be changed if required.

Addressing the ‘National Agriculture Conference - Kharif Campaign 2026’ at the Pusa campus in New Delhi, the minister said the government would ensure the availability of seeds for any contingency situation. “There is no need to panic over El Niño. We will act according to the situation and the specific requirements of each state,” he said.

The two-day conference is being attended by agriculture ministers from various states, scientists, representatives of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), state officials, and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). Detailed discussions and reviews on preparations for the kharif season will be held during the event.

Chouhan said the conference format has now been expanded from one day to two days to allow more comprehensive discussions. On the first day, officials and technical experts will hold detailed consultations with different states in groups, while agriculture ministers from the states will participate in the discussions on the second day.

The Union minister said agricultural and climatic conditions vary significantly across states, making region-specific discussions more practical and effective. He added that the government is also considering organizing regional conferences in the future based on agro-climatic zones to improve the implementation of agricultural policies and strategies at the grassroots level.

Highlighting the government’s focus on pulses and oilseeds, Chouhan said separate missions have been launched for both sectors. Discussions with states will focus on improving seed quality, increasing seed replacement rates, expanding demonstrations, and strengthening processing infrastructure. He added that the horticulture sector is growing rapidly in the country and offers immense potential.

Calling climate change a major challenge for agriculture, the minister said changing weather patterns and irregular rainfall are rapidly altering farming conditions. He said the conference would also deliberate on measures needed to make farming more secure and sustainable.

Special focus during the conference will be given to natural farming, Soil Health Cards, and balanced fertilizer use. Chouhan said many farmers use excessive fertilizers due to lack of awareness, and therefore promoting balanced nutrient application is essential.

The minister also said integrated farming models would be discussed to increase the income of small and marginal farmers. “Landholdings in India are small, so we need to explore how farmers can earn higher profits from limited land,” he said.

He stressed the importance of adequate agricultural financing, saying farmers require support not only for crop production but also for post-harvest management and risk protection. He noted that disparities still exist among states in agricultural credit distribution.

According to the minister, the conference will also discuss the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, PM-AASHA scheme, digital agriculture, farmer IDs, and strengthening FPOs. States have been divided into groups for detailed deliberations on various issues, and presentations will be made in the presence of state agriculture ministers on the second day. A joint national and state-level agricultural roadmap for the kharif season will also be prepared during the conference.

Chouhan said the “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” would also be discussed extensively during the event.

The minister further stated that due to the hard work of farmers, the policies of the central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, scientific research, and support from states, India has broken all previous records in foodgrain production this year.

He said the country’s estimated total foodgrain production for 2025-26 has reached 376.563 million tonnes, around 18.8 million tonnes higher than the previous year. “No matter how big the global crisis becomes, no one in India will go hungry. Our foodgrain stocks are full, so there is no need for concern,” he said.