Facing climatic vagaries, farmers seek expert advice

TIRUCHY: Amid deficit rainfall during the southwest monsoon that failed kuruvai, farmers in the Cauvery Delta region are forced to face the Super El Niño, a natural climatic phenomenon predicted to bring both flooding and drought.

With farmers having little control over atmospheric and climatic conditions, scientists working on various measures suggest they first manage soil health and select suitable plants and planting materials to reduce production risks.

El Niño is a climate phenomenon that occurs when sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean become warmer than normal, which would certainly reduce overall rainfall, delay in monsoon onset, unusual increase in temperature, which would prolong to a longer dry spell and cause uneven rainfall distribution across all regions.

Among the 12 vulnerable districts in Tamil Nadu predicted by the IMD, the drought condition would extend to major paddy-cultivating districts in the Delta region.

Agricultural experts and scientists have already begun developing contingency plans across vulnerable districts to reduce the impact of a potentially weak monsoon due to El Niño.

According to agri experts, nearly half of India’s net sown area still depends on rainfall; crops such as paddy, maize, soybean, cotton, and pulses remain highly vulnerable to weather disruptions. The experts expressed that El Niño years can significantly reduce yields for paddy and maize in several districts across India, particularly in Tamil Nadu.

The researchers are in the process of introducing preventive initiatives and are expected to reach out to the farmers shortly with suggestions and advice to face the unusual climatic conditions.

Experts also cautioned that the farmers would face reduced soil moisture due to less rainfall, and they might be forced to delay sowing of seeds due to a delay in the monsoon due to El Niño, and the excess heat would affect germination and flowering of crops, while there would be aggressive growth of weeds due to limited moisture conditions. All these factors would result in a poor yield, the experts further said.

"The farmers should ensure to maintain soil moisture condition and adopt measures like mulching, a process of putting a protective layer of material over the top of the soil and around plants and use of weed mats to conserve soil and they can also prefer the use of AI based nano irrigation systems to reduce the water consumption,” said K Balachandra Hebbar, Director, ICAR–CPCRI (Central Plantation Crops Research Institute), Kasaragod, Kerala who recently visited Tiruchy.

Balachandra Hebbar further suggested that farmers give more emphasis on quality seed selection and prepare the soil properly, and ensure its moisture level to withstand the heat stress.

“Appropriate choice of drought-tolerant crops and planting materials can help reduce production risks. The farmers should prefer intercropping instead of monocropping in perennial crops, as it can create a favourable microclimate within the field and help mitigate the adverse effects of El Niño,” said Balachandra Hebbar.

He suggested that farmers undertake micro irrigation and use sprinklers to limit the use of water for crops.

“Now, the AI-supported nano irrigation systems are available for the farmers at a moderate expense, and this would help to maintain a uniform moisture condition of the soil,” he said.

Balachandra Hebbar also suggested that farmers minimise excessive tilling of the field, create more field bunds with additional field and burrow plantation.

“Timely field inspection and application of appropriate balanced nutrients, proper weed control and proper soil tests would mitigate the negative impact of El Niño,” Balachandra Hebbar added.

FACT FILE

Duration of El Niño extends from June 2026 to February 2027

315: Total Vulnerable districts in India

111: High Risk districts in India

12: Vulnerable districts in Tamil Nadu (Ariyalur, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Krishnagiri, Namakkal, The Nilgiris, Perambalur, Ramanathapuram, Tiruchy, Tirupathur, Vellore and Virudhunagar)

Past El Niño timeline

From mid 2023 to first half of 2024 (intense summer heat, erratic rainfall)

2015-16 witnessed monsoon deficit, drought in interior India

2009 faced heavily suppressed rainfall during monsoon months

Options for cultivation

Short-duration paddy varieties

Early-maturing maize hybrids

Millets

Pulses