The Centre has identified 315 districts as vulnerable for the Kharif season amid an emerging El Niño and a monsoon rainfall deficit of about 42–43% (as of 23 June 2026).
Vulnerable Districts
- Scope: 315 districts flagged for deficient rainfall and limited irrigation coverage.
- Priority classes: 111 districts with <25% irrigation (high priority); 76 districts with 25–50% irrigation (medium priority).
- Major states: MP, Maharashtra, Gujarat, UP, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Bihar, Jharkhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha.
Preparedness Measures
- Monitoring: El Niño Monitoring Cell and Crop Weather Watch Group set up for real-time tracking.
- Contingency plans: District Agriculture Contingency Plans (DACPs) updated by ICAR and ICAR‑CRIDA for region‑specific crop and water management.
- Seeds & inputs: Additional seed reserves earmarked; fertiliser availability assured; comfortable rice and wheat buffer stocks maintained.
- Crop strategy: Promotion of drought‑resilient crops — pulses, millets (Shri Anna), oilseeds — and alternative cropping patterns.
- Water conservation: Repair/strengthening of ponds, reservoirs and water‑harvesting structures prioritised under MGNREGA and rural schemes.
- Farmer safety net: PMFBY, Kisan Credit Card and PM‑KISAN form a three‑layer financial support framework.
Timeline & Data
- Monsoon outlook: Weak southwest monsoon expected through week ending 2 July 2026.
- Review: Central review meetings on 23 June 2026 assessed preparedness and sowing operations.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- ICAR: Apex agricultural R&D body; CRIDA focuses on rainfed and climate‑resilient agriculture.
- MGNREGA: Provides labour and funds for water‑harvesting and land‑based natural resource works at district level.
- PMFBY: Provides notified‑peril insurance with area/yield or individual farm assessment mechanisms.