Archive · 18 Jul 2026
El Niño Threatens Indian Agriculture
El Niño is a weather pattern that can cause less rain and higher temperatures in India, making farming harder.
Many farmers are struggling because the soil is not as healthy as it used to be.
This is because of using too many chemicals and growing only one type of crop.
To fix this, experts say we should make the soil healthier by adding compost and growing different types of crops together.
This way, farms can be more resilient to changes in the weather.
It's also important to save rainwater and work together as a community to manage resources better.
By doing these things, we can help farmers and the environment at the same time.
El Niño can cause below-normal rainfall and higher temperatures in India, threatening agriculture.
Agriculture has lost resilience due to excessive use of synthetic inputs and monocropping.
Regenerative agriculture focuses on restoring soil health, promoting biodiversity, and conserving water.
Intercropping and mixed farming can spread climatic risk and improve resource use.
Community-based efforts are crucial for water conservation, seed systems, and market access.
- Who
- Indian farmers and agricultural experts
- What
- The potential impact of El Niño on Indian agriculture and the need for regenerative practices
- When
- Published on July 18, 2026
- Where
- India
- Why
- To highlight the challenges posed by El Niño and the importance of regenerative agriculture in building resilience against climatic shocks.
Regenerative Agriculture Advocates
Traditional Agriculture Practitioners
Soil Health
Regenerative Agriculture Advocates
Advocate for restoring soil health through compost, mulching, and biological inputs to enhance resilience against climatic shocks.
Traditional Agriculture Practitioners
Rely on conventional methods and synthetic inputs, which have been the standard practice for decades.
Crop Diversity
Regenerative Agriculture Advocates
Promote intercropping, mixed farming, and agroforestry to spread climatic risk and improve resource use.
Traditional Agriculture Practitioners
Prefer monocropping for simplicity and higher immediate yields, despite its vulnerability to climatic stresses.
Water Management
Regenerative Agriculture Advocates
Encourage farm ponds, rainwater harvesting, and efficient irrigation methods to capture and store rainfall.
Traditional Agriculture Practitioners
Continue with traditional water management practices, which may not be as effective in erratic rainfall conditions.
- El Niño
- Periodic warming of surface waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean that weakens the Indian monsoon, resulting in below-normal rainfall and higher temperatures.
- Regenerative Agriculture
- A farming approach that focuses on restoring soil health, promoting biodiversity, and conserving water to enhance resilience against climatic shocks.
- Monocropping
- The practice of growing a single crop species in a field, which can lead to soil degradation and increased vulnerability to climatic stresses.
- Intercropping
- The practice of growing multiple crop species in a field to spread climatic risk, improve resource use, and enhance biodiversity.
- Rainwater Harvesting
- The collection and storage of rainwater for future use, particularly important in regions with erratic rainfall.