Minister Asks Farmers to Skip Second Crop Due to Dry Weather

Second Crop Appeal

State Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy has appealed to farmers to avoid growing a second crop and cooperate with the government due to severe dry weather caused by the El Nino effect. Speaking during a check distribution event for Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak schemes at his camp office in Kusumanchi, Khammam district, the minister addressed ongoing challenges in power and drinking water. He noted that while electricity units previously cost seven to eight rupees, purchasing them now costs up to fifteen rupees with scarce availability. First-season crops have already reached their final stage.

Official Measures

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and cabinet ministers are determined to protect standing crops by ensuring proper power supply without irrigation hurdles. An emergency cabinet meeting will take place in one or two days to discuss dry conditions, drinking water shortages, and electricity use. The state plans to form a committee under the Chief Minister to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seek central assistance, alongside holding an all-party meeting to gather suggestions. Meanwhile, opposition allegations regarding the cancellation of the Kalyana Lakshmi scheme are false, and the program will continue.

Context

El Nino weather patterns frequently lead to reduced rainfall and water scarcity across agricultural regions, putting pressure on power grids and irrigation reservoirs. State governments often review resource allocation and seek federal support during prolonged dry spells to manage drinking water supplies and support affected farming communities.