Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday, 20 September convened a teleconference with senior officials, district collectors, and Rythu Seva Kendras (RSK) personnel to review the state's response to the El Nino phenomenon, calling it a challenge that demands short-term and medium-term action plans. The review, conducted from Amaravati, covered rainfall deficits, agricultural disruptions, and the risk of food-price inflation across Andhra Pradesh.

Rainfall Deficit and Crop Situation

A rainfall deficit of 50.7 per cent has been recorded across the state, with the worst shortfalls in Prakasam, Annamayya, and Sathya Sai districts. Against a Kharif season target of 30.84 lakh hectares, farming operations have commenced on only 79 per cent of the planned area. While pulse cultivation is described as satisfactory, oilseed cultivation remains critically low.

Naidu directed officials to promote crops based on market demand and urged focus on rain-fed crops and natural farming, noting that recent rains must be utilised effectively. He also stressed optimal use of the ₹190 crore allocated to protect horticultural crops in high-risk RSK zones.

Price Controls and Food Supply Measures

With El Nino threatening to disrupt food supply chains, Chief Minister Naidu issued orders to control the prices of rice, onions, palm oil, and red gram. Officials were directed to monitor rice stock levels and release reserves into the market to prevent price spikes. On onions, he said procurement from multiple regions is already underway, and longer-term cultivation needs to be encouraged to meet future demand.

'Decisions already taken to control the prices of palm oil and red gram must be implemented swiftly,' Naidu said. He also urged officials to promote kitchen gardens managed by self-help groups as a grassroots check on vegetable prices.

Farmer Support and Insurance Payouts

Naidu reassured farmers that crop insurance arrangements are in place and emphasised that payouts must reach affected cultivators without delay if crop losses occur. 'It is the government's responsibility to ensure that the public is not adversely affected when disasters occur. Situations where farmers and consumers face hardship due to official negligence must be avoided,' he said.

He also asked officials to coordinate with the Central Government on Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for eligible crops, and directed that adequate water and fodder be arranged for livestock in drought-stressed areas.

Coordination and Forward Plan

Naidu called on public representatives, administrative machinery, farmers, and water user associations to work in coordination. He noted that El Nino's impact extends beyond agriculture, affecting all sectors of the economy. 'We anticipated El Nino conditions well in advance. Everyone must work according to the pre-prepared action plan. While striving to protect farmers from the effects of El Nino, measures must also be taken to prevent price hikes,' he said.

With harvest season approaching, the pace of implementing these directives — particularly on price control and insurance disbursal — will determine how effectively Andhra Pradesh weathers one of the more severe rainfall deficits in recent Kharif cycles.