Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday urged states to remain prepared for the possibility of low rainfall and other adverse weather conditions, citing concerns linked to El Niño and the India Meteorological Department’s forecast of a below-normal monsoon this year.
Speaking at the concluding session of the National Agriculture Conference – Kharif Campaign 2026 in New Delhi, he said the Centre was actively preparing contingency plans to deal with any disruption in the upcoming Kharif season, which begins with the southwest monsoon in June.
“We are monitoring the El Niño phenomenon. We are not certain yet, but if such a situation arises and there is any delay or gap in rainfall, we are making preparations to deal with it,” he told reporters.
El Niño refers to a climate pattern caused by the abnormal warming of surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, which often disrupts global weather systems and is associated with weaker monsoons in India.
Chouhan said the agriculture ministry has sufficient stocks of seeds and fertilisers and assured that supply chains would remain stable during the sowing season. He urged states to ensure timely distribution of inputs to farmers.
According to official data shared at the conference, seed availability remains higher than demand, with 192 lakh quintals in stock against a requirement of 173 lakh quintals. A buffer stock of 1.74 lakh quintals will also be maintained by the National Seed Corporation for emergency use.
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Fertiliser availability has also been assessed at 200 lakh tonnes against a Kharif demand of 390 lakh tonnes, the minister said.
Chouhan asked states to lift available seed stocks promptly and ensure that farmers receive inputs without delay. He also called for district-level preparedness to manage any rainfall deficit or extreme weather situation.
He stressed the importance of strengthening major agricultural programmes such as the Pulses Mission, Oilseeds Mission and Cotton Mission, and urged scientists to focus on practical, demand-driven research aligned with farmers’ needs.
The minister also emphasised strict action against fake seeds and substandard pesticides, asking states to intensify inspections, strengthen testing laboratories and ensure enforcement.
He further highlighted the need to improve soil health management, balanced fertiliser use and effective implementation of Soil Health Cards under the ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’.
Chouhan said timely access to agricultural credit remains crucial and announced discussions with banks to expand Kisan Credit Card coverage, especially in eastern and northeastern regions.
He also urged states to prepare agro-climatic-specific agricultural roadmaps and improve transparency in fertiliser distribution.
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