Key Details
The Lok Sabha reply outlines the Government's preparedness for potential El Niño conditions through district contingency planning, continuous monitoring, climate-resilient agriculture and long-term adaptation measures.
Key Area | Highlight |
|---|---|
District preparedness | District Agriculture Contingency Plans (DACPs) have been updated for 342 districts across 14 Statesexpected to receive below-normal rainfall. |
National monitoring | Weekly reviews are being undertaken through the Crop Weather Watch Group (CWWG) involving IMD, ICAR, CWC, CGWB, MNCFC, State Governments and other agencies. |
Climate-resilient farming | The Government is promoting short-duration and drought-tolerant crop varieties, crop diversification, micro-irrigation, moisture conservation and other climate-resilient practices. |
Farmer outreach | Khet Bachao Abhiyaan (1–30 June 2026) reached 80.67 lakh farmers through 1.15 lakh awareness programmes on water conservation and climate-resilient agriculture. |
Long-term adaptation | Under NICRA, climate-resilient technologies are being demonstrated in 151 districts covering 448 Climate Resilient Villages, while ICAR released 341 drought-tolerant and 59 heat-tolerant crop varieties during 2014–25. |
Government Strengthens Preparedness for Potential El Niño Conditions
Replying to a Lok Sabha question on 21 July 2026, the Government stated that it is continuously monitoring monsoon conditions and potential El Niño developments through the Crop Weather Watch Group (CWWG), bringing together the India Meteorological Department (IMD), ICAR, Central Water Commission (CWC), Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC) and State Governments.
To support timely responses, District Agriculture Contingency Plans (DACPs) have been updated for 342 districts across 14 States expected to face below-normal rainfall, enabling district-specific interventions based on evolving weather conditions.
Immediate Measures Focus on Farm-Level Risk Reduction
Alongside continuous monitoring, the Government has strengthened seasonal preparedness by ensuring adequate seed availability for the Kharif season and promoting short-duration and drought-tolerant crop varieties, crop diversification, micro-irrigation and moisture-conservation practices.
During Khet Bachao Abhiyaan (1–30 June 2026), more than 80.67 lakh farmers participated in awareness programmes on water conservation and climate-resilient agriculture. Outreach under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) programme is also being undertaken in vulnerable districts to strengthen farmers' preparedness.
Long-Term Adaptation Continues Through Climate-Resilient Agriculture
Beyond seasonal preparedness, the Government highlighted continued investment in long-term agricultural resilience through the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project. Climate-resilient technologies are being demonstrated through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in 151 districts covering 448 Climate Resilient Villages, alongside initiatives such as village seed banks, community nurseries and district-level climate-risk assessments.
The Government also noted that ICAR released 341 drought-tolerant and 59 heat-tolerant crop varieties between 2014 and 2025, while States have been advised to strengthen irrigation, water harvesting, reservoir management and crop diversification to improve resilience against future climate shocks.
What Is the Crop Weather Watch Group (CWWG)?
The Crop Weather Watch Group (CWWG) is an inter-agency coordination mechanism that reviews rainfall, crop conditions, reservoir storage, groundwater levels and weather forecasts on a weekly basis during the crop season. It enables timely policy responses to emerging weather-related risks affecting agriculture.
Policy Relevance
Climate Risk Preparedness: District contingency planning and continuous weather monitoring strengthen the agricultural sector's ability to respond to rainfall variability and potential El Niño conditions.
Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Promoting drought-tolerant crop varieties, efficient irrigation and improved farm practices helps reduce climate-related production risks.
Farmer Preparedness: Awareness campaigns, crop insurance and access to institutional credit support farmers in managing weather-related uncertainties.
Long-Term Adaptation: Investments through NICRA and climate-resilient crop breeding strengthen agriculture's capacity to withstand increasingly frequent climate extremes.
Institutional Coordination: Effective preparedness depends on coordinated action across meteorological, water, agricultural research and State agencies.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can district-level contingency planning and climate-resilient agriculture be strengthened to reduce the long-term impact of increasingly frequent climate extremes on farm incomes and food security?
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