No Monsoon Yet: India Banks on Reservoirs, Foodgrain Stocks as El Niño Risks Emerge; Govt Ramps Up Kharif Planning

On Tuesday, officials emphasized the need for advance contingency planning in rain‑deficient districts and advocated expanding the area under cotton and pulses.

During a high‑level weekly agriculture review meeting with senior officials at Krishi Bhawan, a comprehensive assessment of the country’s Kharif 2026 preparations was carried out.

In the meeting, as the possible El Niño scenario was discussed, officials were instructed to make advance preparations in districts forecast to receive below‑average or irregular rainfall.

“Such districts must be identified and crop‑specific contingency plans developed together with state governments, ensuring that farmers receive prompt alternatives, advice, and assistance if weather challenges arise,” said Chouhan.

While reviewing crop targets, sowing progress, and state‑level preparations for Kharif 2026, a special focus was placed on boosting cotton production.

“The focus will be on promoting scientific practices, suitable variety selection, intercropping, mulching, and moisture conservation on a large scale to raise cotton yields and farmers’ incomes,” the minister stated in a post on X.

A detailed discussion also took place on the Pulse Self‑Reliance Mission.

“Our goal is to increase the nation’s self‑reliance in pulses such as pigeon pea, black gram, and green gram while safeguarding farmers’ income,” said the minister.

The government is already preparing for a weaker monsoon caused by the El Niño phenomenon. India is better equipped to cope with a potentially deficient monsoon and emerging El Niño conditions this year, supported by higher reservoir levels, record foodgrain stocks, and structural economic improvements.

Reservoir storage stood at 30.4 % of full capacity in May 2026, exceeding the average 25.1 % observed in previous El Niño years from 2015‑16 through 2023‑24, according to the latest data.

El Niño is a periodic warming of the Pacific Ocean that frequently leads to below‑average monsoon rainfall in India, posing a major concern for agriculture and water resources.