80% of Crops Damaged

Farmers in India are being urged to adopt drought-resilient indigenous crop varieties due to the El Nino phenomenon and deficient rainfall. The threat to horticultural crops has prompted the government and companies to promote alternative crops and provide support to farmers affected by the drought.

The Desi Seed Producers Company, a farmer-owned organic seed company, has recorded a turnover of ₹1.1 crore and distributed a profit share of ₹75,000 among its seed-producing farmer members in the financial year 2025-26. The company promotes the use of indigenous organic seeds, including climate-resilient varieties, under its Sahaja Seeds brand.

Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy has instructed officials to collect comprehensive information on the drought situation and prepare a detailed report on the measures to be taken. The Karnataka government has sanctioned ₹1 crore to each taluk for drinking water management, while Minister M.B. Patil has said that the government will try to release the maximum amount of compensation to farmers who suffer crop loss due to drought.

The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has promoted the use of Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs (PPFM) to mitigate drought-like conditions in crops. PPFM is a beneficial bacteria that functions as a plant growth promoter and helps in short-term drought-mitigation for crops affected by water scarcity and heat stress.

The Telangana government has directed District Collectors to take immediate steps to implement the contingency crop plan prepared in view of the anticipated rainfall deficiency. Meanwhile, the Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA) has expressed concern over the Tobacco Board’s decision to reduce the authorised Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco crop size by 43 per cent for the upcoming season.

## What's at stake The drought has already damaged nearly 80% of crops in Koppal district, leaving farmers in severe financial distress. Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi has directed officials to ensure that farmers who have suffered extensive crop losses receive 25% interim crop insurance compensation at the earliest.

## Support for farmers The government and companies are taking measures to support farmers affected by the drought. These include promoting alternative crops, providing insurance compensation, and implementing contingency crop plans. The Indian government is also considering curbing the use of sugarcane for ethanol production to tame record-high sugar prices.

In contrast, Australia’s wheat crop prospects are turning more optimistic due to well-timed rain across major growing regions. However, for Indian farmers, the focus remains on adopting drought-resilient crop varieties and seeking support from the government and companies to mitigate the effects of the drought.