Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Monday reviewed its preparedness for the Kharif crop season 2026 and the possible impact of El Niño, with Chief Secretary Anu Garg directing all departments to undertake advance planning and coordinated action to ensure uninterrupted agricultural activities and water availability across the state.
A high-level meeting held at Lok Seva Bhawan discussed the status of southwest monsoon rainfall, forecasts for the season and contingency measures to address any adverse impact arising from El Niño conditions.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Water Resources Department Principal Secretary Shubha Sharma, Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Sachin Ramchandra Yadav, Cooperation Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary and Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, IMD Regional Director Dr. Manorama Mohanty, the Vice-Chancellor of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology and senior officials from various departments.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the monsoon has already reached parts of coastal Odisha and weather conditions remain favourable for rainfall in other regions. While there is a possibility of slightly below-normal rainfall across the country due to El Niño this year, historical analysis indicates that Odisha is unlikely to witness any significant impact.
Officials informed the meeting that rainfall in the state could remain normal, slightly below normal or even above normal despite El Niño conditions. However, the Chief Secretary stressed the need for complete preparedness in view of any possibility of deficient rainfall.
She directed departments to continuously monitor rainfall patterns, reservoir water levels, agricultural activities and water resources while ensuring advance contingency planning.
To strengthen water management, the state government decided to constitute a special Task Force Committee for regular review of irrigation and water management programmes. The committee will focus on ensuring water availability, planning irrigation for both Kharif and Rabi seasons, enhancing irrigation potential and creating awareness among farmers on efficient water use. The Water Resources Department will serve as the nodal department.
The meeting also reviewed strategies related to water conservation, micro-irrigation and efficient management of water bodies during the current agricultural season.
Presenting the Agriculture Department’s preparedness plan, Commissioner-cum-Secretary Sachin Ramchandra Jhadav informed that Odisha has set a cultivation target of 57.88 lakh hectares during the Kharif 2026 season, with irrigation coverage planned for 39.04 lakh hectares.
The state has planned to supply 2,66,780 quintals of seeds during the season, of which more than 1,18,787 quintals have already been made available to farmers. An additional 14,350 quintals of seeds have been kept in reserve to address any emergency requirement. Weekly review meetings are also being conducted at the district level to monitor Kharif preparations.
The Cooperation Department informed that the state requires 11.43 lakh metric tonnes of fertiliser for the current Kharif season and that supplies remain adequate across districts. Vigilance teams have been formed at district and block levels to prevent irregularities in fertiliser distribution, while regular monitoring meetings are being held to review availability.
Officials further stated that around 25 lakh farmers are expected to be covered under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) during the current season.
The Chief Secretary also directed departments and district administrations to strengthen pest and disease management measures in the event of deficient rainfall. Emphasising the importance of sustainable water use, she called for greater efforts towards groundwater recharge and awareness generation in areas facing excessive groundwater extraction.
The review meeting underscored the state government’s focus on ensuring agricultural resilience, water security and effective coordination among departments ahead of the Kharif season.
