Centre Asks Drought-Hit States to Rethink Rabi Crop Plans
· India · LiveMint, The Hindu
The Centre has urged states facing water shortages to adjust their rabi crop plans and align sowing with available water and soil moisture. Agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed the National Agriculture Conference–Rabi Campaign 2026 in New Delhi, warning that water availability must guide crop choices. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh are among the regions experiencing drought-like conditions due to below-normal rainfall. Maharashtra has declared a state-level drought, and central teams are scheduled to visit Maharashtra and Karnataka to assess conditions on the ground. National monsoon rainfall reached 755.7mm between 1 June and 27 September, remaining 12% below the normal level of 857.5mm as reported by the India Meteorological Department.
Why it matters
Farmers in drought-affected states face severe irrigation deficits that threaten agricultural yields and rural incomes ahead of the upcoming rabi sowing season.
Read the original report — LiveMint
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