Jupally directs officials to encourage 'Aarutadi' crops amid drought risk

Farmers grow crops in fields, and their fields need water.

The government stores water in big reservoirs so it can be given to farmers when they need it.

An important government leader, Jupally Krishna Rao, met with irrigation officials to talk about water.

They are worried there may not be enough rain this year.

A weather event called El Niño can change rain patterns and cause dry, drought-like conditions.

Because of this, the reservoirs do not have enough water to keep releasing it to farmers.

Crops like paddy need a lot of water to grow.

So the leader told officials to ask farmers to grow crops that need less water, such as black gram, groundnut and oil palm.

The government wants to give every farmer a fair share of the remaining water, a little at a time.

Officials also have to keep the public informed about how much water is flowing in and out of the projects.