Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Agriculture
Why in News?
In response to El Niño, drought, and irregular monsoon patterns, the Agriculture Ministry set a reduced foodgrain production target of 373.93 million tonnes for 2026–27.
- District-Level Planning – States have been directed to develop district-level Rabi crop plans that consider both water availability and soil moisture conditions.
Drought and Rainfall Situation
- As of September 28, 2026, India recorded a rainfall deficit of approximately 12%.
- According to the India Drought Monitor, IIT Gandhinagar, 52.5% of India's geographical area was experiencing dry or drought conditions as of September 16.
- Approximately one month earlier, 38.9% of the country's area was affected.In Maharashtra, 265 out of 358 talukas have been declared drought-affected.t.
- In Karnataka, the number of drought-affected taluks increased during September.
- Both Maharashtra and Karnataka have requested assistance from the central government.
Strategic Framework for Rabi Season Planning
- District-level Rabi season plans will incorporate the following considerations:
- Assessment of water availability
- Current reservoir storage levels
- Rainfall patterns and weather forecasts
- Soil moisture status
- Availability of irrigation infrastructure
- Groundwater resource availability
- Selection of suitable crop varieties
Crop Diversification Initiatives
The government intends to implement the following measures:
- Discourage the cultivation of water-intensive crops in regions experiencing water scarcity.
- Promote the cultivation of pulses and oilseeds.
- Encourage diversification of cropping patterns.
- Encourage the cultivation of pulses in areas left fallow following paddy cultivation.
- Shift farmers towards crops suited to local water availability.
Khet Bachao Abhiyan
- The campaign has been extended to include the Rabi season.
- It will run nationwide from October 22 to November 30, 2026.
- The campaign will focus on the following areas:
- Improving soil health
- Providing scientific support to farmers
- Promoting crop diversification
- Encouraging water-efficient cropping decisions
Reduction in Kharif Crop Acreage
- The total area under Kharif crops declined from 111.25 million hectares to 109.65 million hectares.
- A substantial portion of this reduction is attributable to decreased paddy cultivation.
- In 2026, paddy was cultivated on 42.68 million hectares.
- This represents a decline of nearly 1.7 million hectares compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.
- Major declines in paddy acreage were reported in Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
Reference
Down to Earth | India Sets Lower Food Production Target
