Telangana issues Vanakalam contingency plan amid below-normal rainfall forecast

The Telangana government has released a contingency crop plan after acknowledging the likely impact of El Nino during the Vanakalam season. The advisory recommends alternative crops and revised cultivation practices to help farmers reduce weather-related losses caused by delayed and deficient rainfall.

Hyderabad: Though delayed, the Telangana government has acknowledged that the State is likely to bear the brunt of the El Nino pattern this Vanakalam season. Citing the India Meteorological Department’s forecast, the government said rainfall is expected to vary across the State, with below-normal precipitation likely in parts of the northern and southern districts.

Following these weather predictions, the Agriculture Department has prepared a contingency plan recommending alternative crops for farmers to minimise weather-related losses. Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao released the plan here on Thursday. The objective of the plan is to reduce the impact of adverse weather conditions and help farmers secure a harvest despite delayed rains, the government said.

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The department advised farmers to shift to contingency crops if the normal sowing window has closed, instead of continuing with their original cropping plans.

The recommendations vary according to soil conditions in different districts. The department has also suggested crop management practices for cotton, red gram and other major crops to reduce the impact of El Nino. However, implementing these recommendations is likely to increase operational and input costs for farmers.

Northern Telangana

For the period between July 16 and July 31, farmers have been advised to cultivate red gram or a bajra-red gram intercropping combination. In Kamareddy and Nizamabad districts, cotton sowing is not recommended after July 20. From August 1 to August 15, farmers should opt for a foxtail millet-red gram combination in a 4:1 ratio or short-duration vegetables.

Central Telangana

In districts such as Medak and Sangareddy, late July remains suitable for red gram and a bajra-red gram combination. In areas with medium to heavy soils, short-duration vegetables have been recommended as a high-value alternative. By mid-August, the department suggests cultivating foxtail millet with red gram or horse gram.

Southern Telangana

In the dryland districts of southern Telangana, the emphasis is on drought-tolerant crops. Between July 16 and July 31, farmers have been advised to cultivate castor, sunflower and red gram. In districts such as Jogulamba Gadwal and Narayanpet, horse gram and foxtail millet have been recommended if sowing is delayed until August.

Critical management practices

The report said changing crops alone would not be sufficient and stressed the need to modify cultivation practices for late-sown crops. To compensate for the shorter growing season, farmers have been advised to increase the plant population per square metre by reducing the spacing between plants, while using short and medium-duration varieties and adopting other recommended practices. The department also recommended that sesamum be sown between August 16 and August 31.