Andhra Pradesh Officials Advise Farmers Against Paddy Sowing in Tirupati Due to El Nino Threat

Agricultural authorities in Andhra Pradesh have cautioned farming communities against undertaking water-intensive paddy cultivation, pointing to severe rainfall deficits and looming El Nino conditions. Tirupati District Collector S. Venkateswar issued the advisory to farmers in the Sullurpeta and Naidupeta areas on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, during the Agri Expo and Kisan Mela in Naidupeta.

District officials project a 32 percent rainfall deficit for Tirupati district over the year, driven by the anticipated El Nino effect. Collector S. Venkateswar cautioned farmers, stating that only 10 to 12 tmc of water is available under the Telugu Ganga canal. The specific percentage of farmers in Sullurpeta and Naidupeta who traditionally cultivate paddy was not provided in official releases.

Across the wider state of Andhra Pradesh, official figures show a significant 51 percent rainfall deficit between June 1 and August 25, 2026, compared to a national shortfall of 13 percent during the same period. All 28 districts in Andhra Pradesh are currently experiencing rainfall deficits. In response to these conditions, the state Agriculture Department initiated a four-pronged contingency strategy in February 2026, based on predictive models that mirrored the severe 1997-98 El Nino event. While the pillars of this strategy were formulated early, full operational details of its implementation remain unelaborated in public department disclosures.

Addressing the broader agricultural outlook, Andhra Pradesh Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy urged farmers and the public on September 1, 2026, to conserve water and food grains, warning of acute water scarcity over the subsequent six months. He advised farmers not to immediately sell harvested paddy but to store sufficient grain until June or July of next year.

Previously, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu advised farmers in the Krishna region to avoid paddy cultivation due to anticipated water shortages, recommending horticulture and drought-resistant crops instead. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Minister for Agriculture K. Atchannaidu stated on August 26, 2026, that all steps have been taken to protect the kharif crop and promote alternative crops despite the El Nino effect.

State agricultural metrics reflect the impact of these weather pressures. The total sown area for Kharif 2026 has decreased to 20.35 lakh hectares, down from 25.63 lakh hectares recorded in Kharif 2025. Conversely, crop insurance coverage for Kharif 2026 expanded to 16.39 lakh hectares, compared to 7.83 lakh hectares in Kharif 2025.

Farmers in Sullurpeta and Naidupeta, particularly those dependent on paddy cultivation, face substantial economic risks and may need to transition to less water-intensive crops to avoid crop failure. This water scarcity threatens local food production, which could potentially lead to increased food prices and affect the livelihoods of agrarian communities across the district.