Agri secretary warns El Nino may hurt rabi crops
In short
India’s agriculture secretary said El Nino may make the rabi crop season harder, especially in rainfed areas. The report also says there were problems in the kharif season and that crop diversification, better infrastructure and digital agriculture are needed.
This matters because foodgrain output could be affected. The report does not say how big the damage may be.
What the reporting says
Agriculture Secretary Atish Chandra said El Nino could make the rabi season difficult in India, according to a publisher-supplied summary. The report links the warning to earlier challenges in rainfed areas during the kharif season and says crop diversification, better infrastructure and digital agriculture are needed. The immediate consequence could be pressure on foodgrain output, but no estimate or timing is given.
Why it matters
Agriculture Secretary Atish Chandra warned that El Nino could make India’s rabi season difficult, with publisher-supplied reporting also pointing to earlier kharif-season strain in rainfed regions. The summary says crop diversification, modern infrastructure and digital agriculture are needed to support self-sufficiency and reduce losses. The report suggests possible pressure on foodgrain output, but it does not give a crop estimate or timeline.