BENGALURU: The Centre has identified Karnataka and four other states as drought-hit amid a deficient monsoon, with around 6.11 lakh hectares of agricultural land affected, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.
Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rajasthan are the other states facing drought conditions. Parts of Andhra Pradesh, particularly the Rayalaseema region, have also been identified as drought-affected.
Speaking on the second day of the Rabi 2026-27 conference in Delhi, Chouhan said the deficient monsoon had affected agricultural operations in several parts of the country. The situation has been attributed in part to the impact of El Niño, a climate phenomenon associated with abnormal warming of waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.
The country recorded around a 12.3% rainfall deficit by the end of the monsoon season, resulting in a marginal decline in the overall area under kharif cultivation.
Paddy cultivation saw the sharpest decline, with the area under the crop falling by around 16.32 lakh hectares. Maize and cotton cultivation also declined. However, acreage under some millets, pulses such as urad and oilseeds including sunflower increased.
The Karnataka government has requested a central assessment team to evaluate the drought situation in the state. The team is scheduled to visit Karnataka on October 3. Maharashtra has also sought a central assessment of the situation, Chouhan said.
He said the Centre would work closely with the affected states and visit drought-hit areas to assess the ground situation. Preventing agricultural land from being left fallow would be an immediate priority, he said.
For the upcoming rabi season, the Centre will assist states in identifying crop varieties that require less water, mature faster and are suited to local soil and climatic conditions. The government will also support farmers in continuing cultivation despite water shortages.
The Centre expects overall agricultural production this year to be around 37.393 million tonnes, slightly below the 37.6 million tonnes recorded in 2025-26. Rabi production is estimated at around 17.72 million tonnes, compared with nearly 18 million tonnes the previous year.
Chouhan also announced the proposed ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ to encourage rabi sowing in view of declining soil moisture and reservoir levels. The campaign will promote judicious use of fertilisers and quality seeds, besides highlighting potential benefits for farmers from various free trade agreements.
