Telangana has declared a drought alert as El Nino throws the southwest monsoon off balance. With monsoon rains faltering, the state faces a sharp rainfall shortage that's held up crop planting and forced officials to launch an emergency response to protect farmers and stretch the dwindling water supply.

Weak Rains and Empty Reservoirs

Farmers are facing weak rains, dry reservoirs, and struggling farms. El Nino’s grip has weakened monsoon currents across India, but Telangana’s taken a particularly hard hit. As per latest official records, rainfall in June lagged by 22%. Normally, the monsoon sweeps through in four days, but this year it dragged on for fifteen. Only three out of thirty-three districts have received regular rainfall. This rain shortfall is hitting the Kharif season hard. Sowing is way down — just 15 lakh acres planted so far, compared to 29 lakh acres at this time last year. Maize cultivation has dropped by more than half (just 1.03 lakh acres). Pulses, like red gram, are down to 1.43 lakh acres. The drought isn’t limited to Telangana; upstream states like Maharashtra and Karnataka are also facing poor rains, cutting off inflows to major reservoirs like Srisailam and Singur, which now stand at critically low levels.

Govt Strategy: A Drastic Shift in Crops

Faced with this, the government is pushing for dramatic changes. Telangana planned for 1.31 crore acres of Kharif crops, with water-guzzling rice (paddy) usually filling half that area. But now, the Agriculture Department wants farmers to get serious about crop diversification. They’re telling farmers to leave paddy alone unless they’re in areas with reliable canal irrigation. Field officers are urging a shift: drop the traditional, water-heavy crops and turn to hardier, drought-resistant options — like pulses, soybeans, cotton, and millets. These crops grow quickly, stand up to heat, and simply don’t need as much water, which makes them more likely to survive the long, dry stretches expected in July and August.

The Action Plan: Preparing for the Worst

Telangana action plan is urgent and specific. Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju and Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy are ordering immediate steps. The state is teaming up with the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) to draft emergency plans for districts most at risk. Drinking water now takes top priority; dams have strict orders to save water for people, letting out only what’s left for farms. The government is setting up emergency seed banks, ensuring that drought-resistant seeds reach farmers through local Rythu Vedikas so they can quickly replant if their crops fail. Officials are also helping small farmers upgrade to water-saving irrigation, like drip and sprinkler systems, to make every drop count. Some showers in July have eased India’s broader rainfall deficit, but Telangana stays on alert. The message from the state government is clear: farmers must conserve water and move away from paddy if rural communities hope to avoid a deep economic crisis.