Preparation, not fear will combat El Nino: Agriculture Minister Chouhan

The Agriculture Ministry is taking stock of regions that may see insufficient rains during the coming monsoon, amid El Nino predictions, and preparing advisories on the appropriate crops that ought to be grown, said Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday (May 28, 2026).

“El Nino is not something to be feared but something that we must prepare for. The India Meteorological Department [IMD] has not given a final word but we are preparing for it — for instance, if some regions see less rain, what would be the appropriate seeds, the modes of supply and necessary contingency plans. If it comes, we will fight it,” he said at the inauguration of the Kharif Conference here.

The IMD has forecast a “below normal” southwest monsoon, with the country likely to receive only 92% of the normal rainfall during June-September, primarily on the back of an El Nino that is set to gain strength in the coming weeks and last through most of the monsoon months. This usually translates to reduced rainfall over India.

The monsoon, expected to arrive in Kerala on May 26 is yet to arrive, though the actual onset usually occurs in a four-day window of the date set by the IMD. The weather agency’s update on Thursday evening said that conditions were likely to become favourable for the monsoon in “…some parts of extreme south Peninsular India, most parts of Southwest Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of Southeast Bay of Bengal, some more parts of Central Bay of Bengal, some parts of Northeast Bay of Bengal, and Northeast India,” between May 28 and June 3.

The two-day Kharif Conference will host several State Agriculture Ministers, scientists and senior officials, along with representatives from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Detailed discussions and reviews on preparations for the upcoming Kharif season will be held over the two days. Mr. Chouhan also said that three regional conferences have already been held in Jaipur, Lucknow and Bhubaneswar. Two more conferences are proposed for the Northeast and south India.

Describing climate change as a major challenge for agriculture, Mr. Chouhan said changing weather patterns and erratic rainfall are rapidly altering farming conditions. “Temperatures are continuously rising, there are instances of excessive rainfall at one time followed by long dry spells. In such a scenario, discussions are necessary on measures to make agriculture safe and sustainable.”

He informed that special focus will be placed on natural farming, Soil Health Cards and balanced use of fertilizers. The Minister pointed out that due to lack of awareness, many farmers use fertilizers in excess, making balanced application essential. He also said discussions would be held on integrated farming models to increase the income of small and marginal farmers. “Farm sizes in India are small. Therefore, emphasis will be placed on how farmers can earn higher income from limited landholdings,” he added.