El Niño impact: Centre identifies 197 'most vulnerable' districts, readies contingency plan

The Centre on Tuesday identified 197 districts across the country as the most vulnerable to the impact of El Niño and has prepared contingency plans to deal with any adverse effects on agriculture.Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on said that the ministry of agriculture and farmers’ welfare is implementing “Khet Bachao Abhiyan”, a nationwide awareness campaign aimed at reaching farmers.“The concern about El Nino is always on my mind 24x7. Not definitive, but 197 districts are identified as most vulnerable,” said Chouhan, as reported by the news agency PTI. ​The El Nino phenomenon is being assessed through weekly meetings held by the ministry. If conditions worsen, it has stored up necessary agricultural inputs like seeds to respond in time. “We have prepared a contingency plan for each state. We will leave no stone unturned to tackle this,” Chouhan added.El Nino, a climate phenomenon linked to poor monsoons and rainfall uncertainties, is a worry for this year.The southwest monsoon has been forecast at around 90% of the long-period average, a below-normal season, according to the IMD (India Meteorological Department).Crop risks could heighten if El Nino conditions intensify in the monsoon season’s latter half, officials warn.Kerala saw the southwest monsoon set in on June 4, which is now advancing northward. Estimated 20-30 per cent of the country is experiencing current coverage, full coverage is expected around July 15.