Prepare drought-hit mandal proposals, use multiple indicators to estimate severity: Telangana Agriculture Minister

A day after Southwest Monsoon 2026 concluded in Telangana, Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao directed officials to prepare proposals on the mandals under impact of drought, in coordination with Revenue Department officials, in view of prevailing rainfall conditions.

At a meeting with officials of Marketing Federation and Telangana State Co-Operative Oilseeds Growers Federation Ltd in Hyderabad on Thursday (October 1, 2026), the Minister discussed the impact of El Nino, indicators to be considered to estimate drought severity, measures needed to provide financial relief to farmers and other aspects. 

Indicators to estimate drought severity

He said that rainfall, extent of cultivated area, soil moisture, reservoir levels, groundwater levels and other key indicators have to be taken under consideration to identify drought conditions and its severity. Besides this, field visits have to be taken up wherever necessary.

Mr. Rao demanded the Centre procure 100% Minimum Support Price (MSP)-notified crops in view of El Nino conditions, which would benefit farmers. The Centre’s responsibility does not end with announcing MSP or increasing it, it has to ensure that all farmers receive it. 

The State recorded a 17% rainfall deficit in this year’s Southwest Monsoon.  Out of the 33 districts in the State, 15 were categorised under the normal rainfall category and 18 were classified as deficient, according to a report of Telangana Development Planning Society (TGDPS). One mandal was in the large excess category, 36 were in the excess category, 259 were normal, 320 were deficient and five were large deficient.