Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Naidu Orders Districts to Prepare for El Niño Impacts
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu asked officials to prepare for difficult effects from El Niño.
El Niño could reduce crop harvests and make food more expensive.
Officials must plan enough drinking water and fodder for people and animals.
Farmers will receive advice about crops that may be in high demand.
The government also wants more onions, pulses and millets to be grown locally.
Water will be stored in tanks and moved from nearby sources when needed.
Pattiseema water is being used to protect farmland in the Krishna Delta.
Officials were also told to support crop insurance and keep essential prices under control.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed district collectors to address El Niño risks and review preparations weekly.
Officials were told to prevent drinking-water, fodder and crop shortages through planning, tank filling and water transport.
The government will promote onions, pulses, millets, multi-cropping, subsidised seeds, crop insurance and natural farming.
Pattiseema was releasing 8,100 cusecs, with 6,700 cusecs reaching Prakasam Barrage and 39.5 tmc diverted this season.
Naidu ordered continuous price-control measures and announced that the Global Horticulture Hub foundation stone would be laid this month.
- Who
- Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, district collectors, ministers and officials.
- What
- The chief minister ordered preparations to limit El Niño-related water shortages, crop losses, food-price rises and hardship.
- When
- The directives were issued on Thursday; Naidu said he would review the situation weekly.
- Where
- At a collectors’ conference in Vijayawada, covering districts and the Krishna Delta.
- Why
- Lower crop yields linked to El Niño could cause shortages, inflation, water and fodder problems, and losses for farmers.
- Pattiseema release
- 8,100 cusecs was being released.
- Prakasam Barrage inflow
- 6,700 cusecs was reaching Prakasam Barrage.
- Godavari water diverted
- 39.5 tmc had been diverted to the Krishna Delta this season.
- Irrigation target
- Officials were directed to complete 36 priority irrigation projects within three years.
- Crop focus
- Officials were asked to promote onions, pulses, millets, multi-cropping and fodder cultivation.
- Price control
- The ministerial committee on price control was told to function continuously.
- Horticulture initiative
- The foundation stone for the Global Horticulture Hub is scheduled to be laid this month.