Expert panel recommends El Nino mitigation measures with ₹803 crore to Telangana government

A 27-member expert committee appointed by the State government to study the impact of El Nino conditions and to recommend mitigation measures has urged the government to focus on climate-informed crop planning, promotion of drought-tolerant and short-duration crops.

The committee, headed by Vice Chairman of the State Planning Board G. Chinna Reddy and comprising officials from Agriculture, Irrigation, Energy, Panchayat Raj, Rural Development, Groundwater, Rural Water Supply, Marketing and research institutions, submitted its report to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy here on Thursday (July 30). The recommendations are expected to cost ₹803 crore. Another key recommendation made by the committee is asking private educational institutions not to insist on immediate payment of tuition fee from children of drought-affected farming families.

The panel also recommended timely seed availability, soil moisture conservation, efficient water management, technology-based advisories, strengthened extension services and inter-departmental coordination to protect agricultural production and farmers’ livelihoods. Protection of standing crops by providing drip and sprinkler irrigation systems with 75% to 90% subsidy to maximise water-use efficiency, protection from wild animals by extending 50% to 75% subsidy to farmers for solar fencing of their farm-fields, coverage of 32 lakh acres of unsown area with village-wise contingency plans and by promoting drought-tolerant pulses, oilseeds, millets, vegetables and fodder crops, were among other recommendations.

The suggested strategy focuses on climate-informed crop planning, promotion of drought-tolerant and short-duration crops, timely seed availability, soil moisture conservation, efficient water management, technology-based advisories, strengthened extension services and inter-departmental coordination to protect agricultural production and farmers’ livelihoods.

The government was urged to supply quality seed of drought-tolerant crops with 75% subsidy, rescheduling of existing crop loans in drought-hit areas and arrange fresh crop loans to raise contingency crops, provision of crop insurance with 75% premium bearing by the government, establishment of fodder banks, organising cattle camps wherever needed, feed support for sheep, transportation of sheep to areas with adequate grazing lands and construction of village troughs to ensure drinking water for livestock.

Further, it preferred provision of continuous employment under VB-G RAM G by requesting the Centre to allow uninterrupted employment to farmworkers during the El Nino period by taking up revival of feed channels, farm ponds, check-dams, tanks, rainwater harvesting structures and tubewell recharge works. It recommended use of the existing Mission Bhagiratha system for drinking water supply.

It also wanted the government to encourage farmers to take up vegetable cultivation in an additional one-lakh acres with supply of seed on 75% subsidy, form village-level nodal teams to monitor crop condition, drinking water, fodder availability, employment, power supply and public health.

Contingency measures

What’s needed to mitigate El Nino impact

Drip irrigation with ₹402 crore and sprinkler irrigation with ₹50 crore

Supply of drought-tolerant crops seed with ₹330 crore

Construction of vegetable pandals with ₹15 crore

Encouraging setting up 3,200 vermicompost units with ₹5.12 crore by extending 100% subsidy