6 days ago
Andhra Pradesh Takes Kharif Measures Despite El Niño Drought
Andhra Pradesh is facing much less rain than usual during the farming season.
This is linked to drought conditions and an El Niño alert.
The state government says it prepared plans to help farmers before the season became difficult.
It also started a special program to reduce the effects of El Niño.
Even with less rain, farmers planted more pulses than last year.
The agriculture minister says farmers pay only a small part of crop-insurance costs.
More farmers applied for insurance this year than last year.
The government also says it will ask the Centre to help clear old insurance payments.
The former chief minister has criticized the government, but the agriculture minister says those criticisms overlook conditions on the ground.
Andhra Pradesh recorded 192.8 mm of rainfall against a normal 393.7 mm between early June and August 25, a 51% deficit.
Pulses cultivation rose 23.6% to 2.66 lakh hectares, while red gram covered 2.30 lakh hectares, paddy 10.37 lakh hectares and cotton 3.97 lakh hectares.
Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu said drought plans were prepared after an El Niño alert in February 2026.
The state launched the Raithanna Meekosam El Niño Effect Mitigation Plan for Kharif 2026 on August 7.
Crop-insurance applications increased from 19.5 lakh in Kharif 2025 to 35.1 lakh in Kharif 2026, covering 15.1 lakh hectares valued at Rs 13,983 crore.
- Who
- The Andhra Pradesh government, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, farmers, and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
- What
- The state is implementing drought-mitigation measures and expanding crop-insurance coverage to support Kharif cultivation despite rainfall deficits and El Niño concerns.
- Where
- Andhra Pradesh, with the announcement made in Amaravati.
- When
- Measures followed an El Niño alert issued in February 2026; the special Kharif plan was launched on August 7, 2026, with rainfall figures recorded through August 25.
- Why
- To prevent drought and El Niño conditions from disrupting Kharif farming and to provide farmers with insurance and other support.
Andhra Pradesh Government
Former YSRCP Administration and Critics
Response to drought and El Niño
Andhra Pradesh Government
Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu says the government anticipated the El Niño risk, prepared district-level plans and launched a special mitigation program to protect Kharif cultivation.
Former YSRCP Administration and Critics
Former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has criticized the government; Atchannaidu says those criticisms ignore the actual conditions faced by the state.
Crop-insurance record
Andhra Pradesh Government
The current government says its voluntary insurance policy limits farmers’ contribution to 2% and has helped increase applications to 35.1 lakh.
Former YSRCP Administration and Critics
Atchannaidu alleges that the previous administration failed to pay its share of premiums for three of five Kharif seasons and multiple Rabi seasons, resulting in no crop-insurance compensation for any Rabi season during its five-year tenure.
Outstanding insurance payments
Andhra Pradesh Government
The coalition government says it has submitted a plan to the Centre to clear Rs 2,000 crore in inherited dues through 2028–29 without burdening farmers.
Former YSRCP Administration and Critics
The previous administration is blamed by the current minister for the unpaid insurance obligations, though the article does not include its response to that allegation.
Key facts
- Rainfall
- 192.8 mm recorded versus a normal 393.7 mm from the first week of June through August 25, a 51% deficit.
- Pulses cultivation
- 2.66 lakh hectares in Kharif 2026, up 23.6% from 2.16 lakh hectares the previous year.
- Major crops
- Red gram covered 2.30 lakh hectares, paddy 10.37 lakh hectares and cotton 3.97 lakh hectares.
- Insurance applications
- Applications rose from 19.5 lakh in Kharif 2025 to 35.1 lakh in Kharif 2026.
- Insurance coverage
- Coverage reached 15.1 lakh hectares valued at Rs 13,983 crore.
- Farmer premium
- Under the voluntary policy, farmers pay 2% of the premium, including Rs 76 per acre for paddy and Rs 36 per acre for red gram.
- Pending dues
- The government submitted a roadmap to clear Rs 2,000 crore in outstanding crop-insurance dues through phased payments until 2028–29.
Sources
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