Archive · 28 Jul 2026
Andhra Pradesh Faces Severe Drought Due to El Niño
Andhra Pradesh is facing a serious drought because of El Niño.
The state had 69% less rain in July than usual, and the next few months are expected to be even drier.
This could hurt a lot of crops, especially cotton and paddy.
The Chief Minister has asked officials to help farmers by giving them insurance, advice on what to plant, and making sure they have enough water.
They are also setting up special rooms to watch the weather and give farmers tips.
The government is trying to make sure farmers have enough food for their animals and that milk production doesn't go down.
Andhra Pradesh recorded a 69% rainfall deficit in July.
Rainfall is expected to be 35–40% below normal for the next three months.
Total expected rainfall is 551mm, against the normal 844mm.
Around 2.78 lakh hectares of cotton and 1.07 lakh hectares of paddy are projected to be affected.
The government is providing crop insurance, alternative cropping plans, and dedicated control rooms for monitoring.
- Who
- Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and officials of Andhra Pradesh
- What
- Drought conditions due to El Niño
- When
- July and expected to continue for the next three months
- Where
- Andhra Pradesh, India
- Why
- El Niño-induced rainfall deficit and potential severe impact on agriculture
Government Response
Farmers' Concerns
Support Measures
Government Response
The government is providing comprehensive support, including crop insurance, alternative cropping plans, and dedicated control rooms.
Farmers' Concerns
Farmers are concerned about the effectiveness of these measures and the potential for significant crop losses.
- Rainfall Deficit
- 69% in July
- Expected Rainfall
- 35–40% below normal for the next three months
- Total Expected Rainfall
- 551mm (against normal 844mm)
- Affected Crops
- 2.78 lakh hectares of cotton, 1.07 lakh hectares of paddy
- Insured Area
- 6.30 lakh hectares
- Fodder Reserves
- 286.30 lakh metric tonnes (sufficient for five months)