Preparation, not fear, will fight El Nino: Agriculture Minister Chouhan

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the ministry is in the process of identifying areas for alternative crops and ensuring availability of seeds in case of El Nino impact. File (representative image) | Photo credit: KVS Giri

The agriculture ministry is taking inventory of regions that may experience deficient rains during the coming monsoon amid El Nino predictions and preparing recommendations on suitable crops to grow, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Thursday (May 28, 2026).

“El Nino is not something to fear, but something we have to prepare for. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has not given the final word, but we are preparing for it – for example, if some regions get less rainfall, what would be the appropriate seeds, supply methods and necessary contingency plans. If it comes, we will fight it,” he said at the launch of the Kharif conference here.

The IMD has predicted a “sub-normal” southwest monsoon, with the country likely to receive only 92% of normal rainfall during June-September, mainly on the back of El Nino, which is expected to gain strength in the coming weeks and last most of the monsoon months. This usually means reduced rainfall over India.

The monsoon, which is expected to arrive in Kerala on May 26, is yet to arrive, though the actual onset usually occurs within a four-day window of the date set by the IMD. The weather agency’s update on Thursday evening said conditions are likely to become favorable for the monsoon in “…some parts of extreme southern peninsular India, most parts of southwest Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of southeast Bay of Bengal, some other parts of central Bay of Bengal, some parts of northeast Bay of Bengal and northeast India” between May 28 and June 3.

The two-day Kharif conference will host several state agriculture ministers, scientists and senior officials along with representatives from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Over two days, there will be detailed discussions and reviews on preparations for the upcoming Kharif season. Mr. Chouhan also said that three regional conferences have already been held in Jaipur, Lucknow and Bhubaneswar. Two more conferences are proposed for North East and South India.

Describing climate change as a major challenge for agriculture, Mr Chouhan said changing weather patterns and erratic rainfall are rapidly changing farming conditions. “Temperatures are constantly rising, there are cases of excessive rainfall all at once followed by long periods of drought. In such a scenario, discussions are necessary on measures to ensure that agriculture is safe and sustainable.”

He informed that special attention will be paid to natural farming, soil health cards and balanced use of fertilizers. The minister pointed out that due to lack of awareness, many farmers are using fertilizers in excessive amounts and therefore their balanced application is essential. He also said that integrated farming models will be discussed to increase the income of small and marginal farmers. “Farm size in India is small. Hence the focus will be on how farmers can get more income from limited land ownership,” he added.

Published – 28 May 2026 14:57 IST