Telangana orders drought assessments as monsoon rainfall falls short

Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao has directed officials to prepare proposals for mandals affected by drought, amid deficient rainfall and concerns about the impact of El Niño conditions. At a meeting in Hyderabad, Rao asked Agriculture Department officials to coordinate with the Revenue Department. He said drought severity should be assessed using multiple indicators rather than rainfall alone.

The indicators listed included rainfall differences, soil moisture, the duration of dry conditions, the area sown, reservoir and groundwater levels, fodder availability, drinking water, employment and migration. The Agriculture Department was asked to provide relevant information to the Revenue Department. According to the drought management guidelines cited at the meeting, rainfall 20% to 59% below normal is considered a deficit, while a shortfall of 60% to 99% is categorised as a huge deficit.

No rainfall is classified as severe drought. Field visits may also be conducted where necessary. The department said cultivated area below 85% of normal should be treated as an indicator of drought, with cultivation below 75% regarded as severe.

The source material does not say how many mandals will ultimately be declared drought-affected. Rao also called on the Union government to procure all crops covered by the Minimum Support Price system, citing the effects of El Niño. He said announcing or increasing MSP was not sufficient unless farmers could actually receive the support price.

Telangana recorded a 17% deficit during the southwest monsoon, according to the Telangana Development Planning Society. Fifteen of the State’s 33 districts were placed in the normal rainfall category, while 18 were classified as deficient. The report also listed rainfall categories for mandals: one was in the large-excess category, 36 in the excess category, 259 normal, 320 deficient and five large deficient.

The meeting considered possible financial relief for farmers, but the material does not specify a relief package or say whether a formal drought declaration has been made.