Ranchi: Bracing for an El Niño effect that could trigger delayed rainfall, prolonged dry spells and drought-like conditions, state govt has launched a contingency strategy focused on drought-tolerant and short-duration crops to safeguard farm output during the kharif season.Paddy is cultivated across nearly 18 lakh hectares in the state, followed by rapeseed-mustard, chickpea, maize, wheat, red gram and black gram. Agricultural experts have cautioned that an El Niño-induced weak monsoon could affect reservoir recharge, increase temperatures and place significant stress on rain-fed farming systems.A contingency report prepared by Rakesh Kumar, senior scientist (agronomy) at the ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region (ICAR-RCER), Patna, recommends that farmers stock short-duration and drought-tolerant seeds before sowing while maintaining contingency reserves of millets, pulses and oilseeds. The report also calls for repair of farm ponds, check dams and water-harvesting structures to enhance water availability.Officials said the strategy is being implemented through the ICAR-RCER Farming System Research Centre for Hill and Plateau Region at Plandu. Moisture conservation measures such as ridge-furrow and broad-bed furrow systems have also been recommended.Farmers have been advised to adopt mulching, strengthen field bunds, undertake weed control within 20-25 days of sowing and provide life-saving irrigation at critical growth stages. Experts have also recommended foliar sprays of 2% potassium chloride or 1% potassium nitrate during dry spells, along with the use of farmyard manure, compost, biofertilisers, rhizobium and phosphate-solubilising bacteria (PSB) to improve crop resilience.For upland paddy fields, the advisory suggests direct-seeded rice and short-duration varieties such as Sahbhagi, Lalat, IR-64, Naveen and Birsa Dhan-108. Farmers may also switch to finger millet, black gram, green gram, sesame, niger, horsegram, toria or sweet potato if rainfall remains deficient. Recommended intercropping models include pigeon pea with upland rice and maize with okra.Drought-tolerant maize varieties such as Birsa Makka-1, Birsa Vikas Makka-1, Birsa Vikas Makka-2 and Kanchan are among those being promoted. For delayed sowing, experts have advised increasing seed rates by 10-15%.“Through Udyan Vikas Yojana and MIDH (Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture), emphasis is being laid on efficient water use, diversification towards horticultural crops and promotion of micro-irrigation and protected cultivation, aimed at safeguarding livelihoods of farmers despite rainfall variability,” said Nikhat Parween, assistant director, horticulture department.
