Telangana MP urges farmers to avoid paddy over El Niño water risk

Avoid water intensive crops to avoid financial distress: Telangana MP urges farmers

Bhongir MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy has urged farmers in Telangana to reconsider paddy and other water-intensive crops, citing the possibility of El Niño conditions and the risk of inadequate water during the crop cycle.

Warning over water availability

Mr. Reddy cautioned that farmers who choose crops such as paddy could face financial distress if sufficient water was not available. He said farmers cultivating paddy and other water-intensive crops could face financial difficulties if water supplies fell short during the crop cycle.

The MP said Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had alerted people to the possible impact of El Niño and advised farmers to take precautionary measures. He urged farmers to consider the Chief Minister’s advice and select crops that require less water.

Mr. Reddy said farmers would be among the first to suffer the consequences of El Niño and appealed to them not to be misled by the Opposition. He also criticised the Opposition for politicising the issue.

El Niño impact beyond Telangana

The weather phenomenon was not confined to Telangana and could affect regions across the world, Mr. Reddy said. His warning linked the choice of crops to the availability of water, particularly in a situation where farmers could face shortages during cultivation.

The MP said natural disasters and climatic phenomena were beyond the control of any government. At the same time, he stressed the need to manage available water resources carefully.

Mr. Reddy also said water shortages affected electricity generation. He highlighted that the State had reached a position where it supplied 20,000 MW of power, underlining the importance of managing water resources carefully.

Source: The Hindu