Hans News Service Anantapur

Agriculturalscientists and experts have urged immediate drought preparedness measures for farmers in Anantapur and Sri Sathya Sai districts to mitigate the expected impact of El Niño this season.

Speaking at a one-day conference organised by AF Ecology Centre (AFEC) here on Friday, participants stressed the need for climate-resilient agriculture and coordinated action against erratic weather. In his keynote address, Dr Bandi Venkateswarlu, former Director of ICAR-CRIDA, warned of below-normal rainfall and prolonged dry spells during southwest monsoon. He called for timely government support and adoption of resilient farming practices to minimise crop losses.

The conference recommended crop diversification with a mix of long-, medium and short-duration varieties, shifting to drought-tolerant crops like millets, horse gram, green gram, and black gram when sowing is delayed. Experts also highlighted protective irrigation for orchards and integrated farming systems, including soil-water conservation and rainwater harvesting.

AFEC Director YV Malla Reddy emphasised community-based preparedness and stronger collaboration among institutions. Recommendations will be submitted to the State government, alongside awareness programmes.