Kitchen gardens should be promoted through self-help groups to increase vegetable production and help control prices, says Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
| Photo Credit: File Photo
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday reviewed the impact of El Niño conditions and directed the officials to implement the action plan prepared to protect farmers and control prices of essential commodities.
During a teleconference with the senior officials, district Collectors, and Rythu Seva Kendra staff, Mr. Naidu said El Niño would affect not only agriculture but all sectors, and asked officials to adopt short and medium-term plans to mitigate its impact.
He directed the officials to keep the prices of rice, onion, palm oil and red gram under control. Rice stocks in godowns should be assessed and released into the market whenever necessary. Onion cultivation should be encouraged according to future demand, while decisions already taken to control palm oil and red gram prices should be implemented quickly.
Kitchen gardens should be promoted through self-help groups to increase vegetable production and help control prices, he said. Farmers should be encouraged to cultivate crops according to market demand, with greater emphasis on pulses, millets, rain-fed crops and natural farming. Officials should ensure that crop insurance compensation reached farmers in the event of crop losses.
The State recorded 50.7% rainfall deficit, with Prakasam, Annamayya and Sri Sathya Sai districts recording the highest deficits, Mr. Naidu said. Against the targeted kharif cultivation area of 30.84 lakh hectares, cultivation began in 79% of the area. The impact of El Niño was particularly visible in Kurnool, Nandyal and Anantapur districts.
The government had supplied 1.31 lakh quintals of seeds at 80% subsidy. A sum of ₹60 crore had been kept ready for the kharif contingency plan, he said.
The Chief Minister said ₹190 crore had been allocated to protect horticulture crops in the high-risk areas. Officials should ensure drinking water for people, and water and fodder for livestock.
He said advance measures had enabled water to reach tail-end areas through the Handri-Neeva project. The government had spent ₹3,500 crore and brought water into the canals within 100 days, he said.
Mr. Naidu directed the officials to make regular field visits and work in coordination with public representatives, farmers and irrigation associations to mitigate the impact of El Niño.
Published – September 20, 2026 06:09 pm IST
