New Delhi: Amid forecasts of a below-normal monsoon due to El Niño, the Centre on Monday said the agriculture ministry has formed crop weather watch and crisis management groups, and has circulated a crisis management plan to state governments, to mitigate risks to kharif crops.
The Inter-Ministerial briefing, held in the context of recent developments in West Asia, also addressed concerns around food and fertiliser security.
States have been asked to maintain a seed reserve of one per cent, with emphasis on short and medium-duration varieties.
The measures were outlined during an inter-ministerial briefing that also reviewed the country’s preparedness in the backdrop of the emerging El Niño conditions and recent geopolitical developments affecting global supply chains.
Officials said the Ministry of Agriculture has constituted a Crop Weather Watch Group that will meet every Monday to assess rainfall patterns, sowing progress, reservoir levels, input availability, pest incidence, and commodity price trends.
In addition, a Crisis Management Group comprising relief commissioners and state disaster management authorities has been formed to coordinate responses to any adverse weather-related developments.
“A crop weather watch group has been constituted and meets every Monday to study rainfall patterns, sowing progress, reservoir status, input availability, pest incidence, and price trends,” said Anupam Mishra, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs.
The government has also circulated a crisis management plan to states and advised them to maintain a seed reserve of at least one per cent, with particular emphasis on short- and medium-duration crop varieties that can better withstand erratic rainfall.
District-level contingency plans are being prepared in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), while regular video conferences are being held with state officials to assess preparedness.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast the southwest monsoon at around 90 per cent of the long-period average, indicating a below-normal season. Officials warned that crop risks could increase if El Nino conditions intensify during the latter part of the monsoon.
To ensure adequate farm inputs, the government said fertiliser stocks currently stand at 51 per cent of kharif season requirements, significantly higher than the conventional buffer level of 33 per cent.
Officials also sought to allay concerns over food security. Wheat stocks currently stand at 513 lakh tonnes against the prescribed buffer norm of 275 lakh tonnes for July 1, while rice stocks are at 397 lakh tonnes compared with the required 135 lakh tonnes.
The government said supplies of essential commodities remain stable, with no unusual volatility reported in cereals, pulses, sugar, onions, potatoes or tomatoes. Edible oil availability is also considered adequate, supported by imports through unaffected maritime trade routes.
