NEW DELHI — India will prepare district-level contingency plans to help farmers cope with possible low or uneven monsoon rainfall linked to the El Niño weather pattern, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Chouhan said on June 16.
Chouhan ordered that vulnerable districts be identified and crop-specific alternatives, advice and support readied, and called for awareness campaigns in areas expected to be hardest hit so farmers know safer crop options and precautions.
Forecasters have predicted the 2026 monsoon may deliver about 90% of the long-term average rainfall, and the Indian Meteorological Department warned of a 60% chance of a deficient season. India’s agricultural sector supports more than 45% of the population, raising concerns about drought-driven impacts on food security and rural livelihoods.
The US weather agency confirmed El Niño’s arrival on June 11 and said the pattern could strengthen through 2026, intensifying heat and extreme weather that may disrupt monsoons across the tropics.