Centre Issues Alert on Potential El Nino Impact, Prioritizes Farmers' Interests
Summary
The Union Government, led by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has issued a high-level alert regarding the potential onset of El Nino and its adverse effects on the upcoming monsoon and agricultural cycles.
●Emphasizing that the protection of farmers' interests remains paramount, the Centre has directed state governments to prepare contingency crop plans, ensure adequate seed availability for drought-resistant varieties, and strengthen irrigation infrastructure.
●The proactive measures aim to mitigate the risks of rainfall deficit, stabilize food production, and prevent agrarian distress during the critical Kharif sowing season.
El Nino is a climate pattern characterized by the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, which typically suppresses monsoon rainfall in India, leading to drought-like conditions.
●The Indian government's proactive alert underscores the critical vulnerability of the Kharif crop, heavily dependent on the Southwest Monsoon.
●To counter potential deficits, the Ministry of Agriculture promotes contingency planning, including the distribution of short-duration and drought-tolerant seed varieties, alongside leveraging schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) for risk mitigation.
●Ensuring adequate reservoir levels and promoting micro-irrigation are also prioritized to sustain agricultural output.
[Proactive climate-resilient agricultural planning and robust crop insurance frameworks are essential to insulate Indian farmers from the adverse macroeconomic and livelihood impacts of El Nino-induced monsoon deficits.]
Factual Pointers
Practice · 1 question
Which of the following best describes the typical impact of an El Nino event on the Indian subcontinent?
Agriculture & Allied
This sub-topic has appeared in 4 UPSC Prelims questions.