Srinagar, Aug 12: Five districts of Jammu and Kashmir have been identified as vulnerable to below-normal rainfall conditions amid the possible impact of El Niño, putting the administration on alert to strengthen preparedness for the ongoing Kharif season.
According to official details accessed by Rising Kashmir, Kupwara, Rajouri, Ramban, Reasi and Udhampur have been included among 262 vulnerable districts identified across 15 States and UTs for focused monitoring and preparedness.
The districts have been identified on the basis of the probability of rainfall, irrigation coverage and cropped area, with the exercise aimed at preparing for possible stress on agriculture if rainfall remains below normal.
The identification comes as the authorities monitor the evolving monsoon situation and its possible impact on agriculture due to El Niño conditions. However, no assessment of crop or farm-income losses has been made so far, as sowing for the 2026-27 Kharif season is still underway and the first advance estimates of major Kharif crops are yet to be released.
For the vulnerable areas, the preparedness strategy includes crop diversification, short-duration and drought-tolerant varieties, water conservation, micro-irrigation, mulching and inter-cropping to reduce the impact of weather-related stress on crops.
The authorities have also advised advance planning for the optimum use of available water and greater adoption of efficient irrigation practices. Assistance under the Per Drop More Crop component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana is available for improving water-use efficiency at the farm level.
The official assessment says District Agriculture Contingency Plans have been updated for districts likely to receive below-normal rainfall. These plans are prepared at the district level in consultation with State authorities and ICAR’s Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture.
In the identified vulnerable districts, authorities are also undertaking awareness and enrolment drives under crop insurance schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and the Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme, which provide financial support against crop losses caused by adverse weather and natural calamities.
For J&K, the five districts on the list cut across north Kashmir and the Jammu region, covering Kupwara in the north and Rajouri, Ramban, Reasi and Udhampur in the Jammu division.
The government is continuing to review rainfall, water availability, crop sowing and other indicators through regular monitoring mechanisms as part of its monsoon preparedness.
The classification is not an assessment of actual crop damage in the five districts. Rather, it places them on a watch list for closer monitoring and advance preparedness as the Kharif season progresses.
