Nizamabad: Telangana Government Principal Advisor P. Sudarshan Reddy urged farmers to adopt alternative crops to tackle the adverse impact of the ongoing Super El Niño, which has led to severe rainfall deficiency across the state.
Chairing a high-level review meeting in Nizamabad with public representatives, district officials, agricultural scientists, and farmers, Sudarshan Reddy stressed the need for extensive awareness campaigns at the village level. The meeting reviewed water availability in major reservoirs, groundwater status, drinking water supply, power demand, and crop planning.
He advised farmers to shift towards low-water crops such as oil palm, pulses, sesame, groundnut, millets, vegetables, and horticulture crops instead of water-intensive cultivation. He also said the government would work towards providing subsidies for solar fencing to protect crops from monkeys and wild boars, while encouraging fruit plantation in forest areas to reduce wildlife intrusion into villages.
Officials emphasized that drinking water would remain the top priority and directed departments to ensure efficient water management. Farmers were also encouraged to adopt crop diversification, rainfed farming, and water conservation measures, including groundwater recharge through soak pits and rainwater harvesting structures.
MLC B. Mahesh Kumar Goud and other public representatives called for coordinated efforts to protect farmers from the effects of El Niño, expand crop insurance coverage, and provide subsidies for seeds and drip irrigation systems.
The review meeting was attended by legislators, district collectors, police officials, agriculture experts, and senior government officers from the erstwhile Nizamabad district.
