Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Naidu Calls for Water Conservation and Climate-Resilient Farming
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu said El Niño and low reservoir levels had worsened drought conditions in Andhra Pradesh.
He asked farmers in Kuppam to use water carefully.
Farmers were encouraged to try natural farming, dry sowing before the monsoon and micro irrigation.
Naidu also recommended crops such as millets because they need less water.
He said rainwater should be allowed to soak into the ground and farm waste should be used as mulch or manure.
More than 550 small irrigation tanks are planned to be connected.
A new reservoir costing ₹45 crore is proposed near Beeruvanipalle.
Naidu also described plans for jobs, roads, trains, an airport, solar power and support for poor families.
He appealed for support for alliance candidates in upcoming local body elections.
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu attributed severe drought conditions partly to El Niño and urged careful water use.
He called for natural farming, pre-monsoon dry sowing, micro irrigation, millets and rainwater percolation.
More than 550 minor irrigation tanks in Kuppam are planned to be connected through lift irrigation and pipelines.
A ₹45 crore reservoir is proposed near Beeruvanipalle through the Kuppam Branch Canal of the Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi project.
Naidu outlined Kuppam development plans involving industries, skills training, transport, solar rooftops and poverty reduction.
- Who
- Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, farmers, state officials and residents of Kuppam.
- What
- Naidu urged water conservation and climate-resilient farming while announcing irrigation and broader development plans for Kuppam.
- When
- Monday; the speech also referred to upcoming local body elections.
- Where
- Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh.
- Why
- To address El Niño-related drought conditions and low reservoir levels while improving agricultural incomes and local development.
- Water conditions
- Naidu said El Niño had contributed to severe drought conditions and that reservoir levels were low.
- Recommended farming
- Natural farming, pre-monsoon dry sowing, micro irrigation, millets, mulching and organic manure were encouraged.
- Irrigation network
- More than 550 minor irrigation tanks in Kuppam are planned to be linked through lift irrigation and pipelines.
- Proposed reservoir
- A reservoir near Beeruvanipalle is planned at a cost of ₹45 crore through the Kuppam Branch Canal of the Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi project.
- Existing water supply
- The Handri-Neeva canal has helped bring water to Kuppam and fill 133 tanks.
- Employment and training
- Thirty-two industries were established in Kuppam, while about 8,500 women were receiving digital literacy and entrepreneurship training.
- Poverty reduction
- A total of 8,904 Bangaru Kutumbalu were identified under the P4 programme.
- Other projects
- Plans include a junior college, improved transport links, an airport, solar rooftops and development of Kuppam as a net-zero constituency.
