Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, directed officials to prepare advance contingency plans for districts facing the risk of low or uneven rainfall, as the government steps up its response to a potential El Nino-driven disruption to the Kharif 2026 season. The directive came during a high-level weekly agriculture review meeting held at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, attended by senior officials from the agriculture ministry.

Key Directives from the Review Meeting

At the meeting, Chouhan called for rain-deficient districts to be identified proactively and for crop-wise contingency plans to be drawn up in coordination with state governments. 'Such districts should be identified, and crop-wise contingency plans should be prepared in collaboration with state governments, so that in the event of any weather-related challenge, farmers can be immediately provided with alternatives, advice, and assistance,' the minister said.

The review covered nationwide sowing progress, crop-wise targets, and state-level preparations for the upcoming Kharif season, with a particular focus on cotton and pulses.

Push to Boost Cotton and Pulse Production

A dedicated discussion on increasing cotton output featured prominently in the meeting. 'Emphasis was placed on promoting measures such as scientific methods, selection of appropriate varieties, intercropping, mulching, and moisture conservation on a large scale, so that both cotton productivity and farmers' income can increase,' Chouhan said in a post on X.

The minister also highlighted progress under the Pulse Self-Reliance Mission, which targets reduced import dependence for key crops. 'Our effort is to make the country increasingly self-reliant in pulses like pigeon pea, black gram, and green gram, and to secure farmers' income,' he said.

India's Buffer Against El Nino Impact

The government's preparations come against the backdrop of growing concern over a weakening monsoon this year. However, India is reportedly better positioned than in previous El Nino cycles, backed by higher reservoir levels, record foodgrain stocks, and structural improvements in the economy.

According to the latest data, reservoir storage levels stood at 30.4 per cent of full reservoir capacity in May 2026 — significantly higher than the average 25.1 per cent recorded during previous El Nino years between 2015-16 and 2023-24. This buffer provides the government a degree of flexibility that was absent in earlier episodes.

What This Means for Farmers

The emphasis on advance planning marks a shift from reactive to pre-emptive agricultural governance. Notably, this is not the first time El Nino has tested India's farm sector — the 2015 and 2023 events each triggered significant crop stress and price pressures in pulses and oilseeds. The current administration's push to front-load contingency measures and expand acreage under drought-tolerant crops reflects lessons from those episodes.

With the Kharif 2026 sowing window approaching, the pace at which state governments finalise district-level plans will be closely watched by both farmers and markets.