The Odisha government will establish a task force to continuously monitor water management and irrigation planning, taking into account the potential impact of El Niño. The decision was made during a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg.
Task Force Focus Areas
The panel will focus on assessing water availability, planning irrigation for both kharif and rabi seasons, improving efficiency, and ensuring optimal water use for farmers. The water resources department will serve as the nodal agency, with secretaries and senior officials from the agriculture and farmers' empowerment department and other relevant departments as members.
The meeting also reviewed water conservation, micro-irrigation, efficient usage, and reservoir management strategies for the 2026 El Niño year, according to a government statement.
Preparedness for Kharif 2026
Officials assessed preparedness for the kharif 2026 crop season, the southwest monsoon outlook, and measures to mitigate the possible impact of El Niño. The chief secretary stressed advance planning and coordinated action to tackle likely challenges.
El Niño, caused by warming ocean temperatures, influences global weather patterns and the Indian monsoon. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has presented daily, weekly, monthly, and long-range forecasts, indicating that the monsoon has reached some coastal parts of Odisha, with conditions remaining favorable for rainfall elsewhere.
Based on IMD projections, the country may receive slightly below-normal rainfall this year due to El Niño. However, past data suggest Odisha may not face a significant impact, with rainfall likely to remain near normal, though some variations cannot be ruled out.
Despite this, the chief secretary directed departments to remain fully prepared for any shortfall. She asked officials to closely monitor rainfall, reservoir storage, agricultural activity, and water resources, while taking precautionary steps in advance.
Agriculture Department Roadmap
The agriculture department presented its preparedness roadmap for kharif 2026. Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo on May 27 reviewed El Niño preparedness and made key recommendations. The department is also disseminating advisories through the Krushi Samruddhi helpline. A national workshop held in New Delhi on May 29 discussed additional measures.
The state has set a cultivation target of 57.88 lakh hectares for the current kharif season, with irrigation planned for 39.04 lakh hectares. A total of 2,66,780 quintals of seeds has been planned for supply, of which over 1,18,787 quintals have already been distributed. An additional 14,350 quintals have been kept in reserve. Weekly reviews are being conducted to track preparedness.
Fertilizer Availability and Crop Insurance
On fertilizer availability, cooperation department officials said the requirement for kharif is 11.43 lakh metric tonnes, with supplies so far adequate across districts. Enforcement teams at district and block levels have been activated to check irregularities, and regular monitoring is underway. Around 25 lakh farmers are targeted for coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana this season.
The chief secretary asked departments and district administrations to further strengthen coordination. She also emphasized preparedness for possible pest and disease outbreaks in low-rainfall conditions and stressed the need for groundwater recharge through awareness and corrective measures in overexploited areas.
