El Nino: India Acts to Save Fisheries

Indian officials have launched a campaign to minimize the impact of El Nino on inland fisheries, which will conclude on August 7. The initiative aims to educate stakeholders on scientific measures to minimize losses due to adverse climatic conditions.

The Indian agriculture sector is also expected to be affected by El Nino, with rice production set to fall for the first time in more than a decade. The US Department of Agriculture projects that rice production in the US will fall by more than half. In India, the monsoon is expected to be 10% below its long-term average due to El Nino, and the area sown by farmers for the 2026 kharif season was about 2.9% less than in the 2025 kharif season.

The Tamil Nadu government has prepared District Agricultural Contingency Plans to cope with the impacts of Super El Nino. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expects a 39% deficit in rainfall this season. Despite these challenges, S&P Global Ratings expects the macroeconomic impact of El Nino to be manageable in Asia-Pacific economies.

The Reserve Bank of India projects retail inflation at 5% for FY27 due to El Nino conditions. The Indian government is taking steps to mitigate the effects of El Nino, including implementing the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to provide insurance coverage for farmers.

What's at stake The impact of El Nino on global rice production is significant, with more than half the world's population depending on rice to survive. The ongoing climate crisis is intensifying dry, hot weather that could cause yields to plummet. Farmers are expected to be hit hard during these extreme climate events.

Preparing for the future To ensure food security, the Tamil Nadu government has set a target to produce 131 lakh metric tonnes of food grains over the next five years. The government is also taking steps to increase the production of pulses, vegetables, and fruits to achieve both self-sufficiency and nutritional security.

The campaign to minimize the impact of El Nino on inland fisheries is a crucial step in mitigating the effects of the climate phenomenon on India's agriculture sector. As the country prepares for the challenges ahead, it is essential to take proactive measures to ensure food security and support farmers affected by El Nino.