Shivraj Singh Chouhan says Centre to assess drought in Karnataka, Maharashtra from October 3

The Centre will send teams to Karnataka and Maharashtra from October 3 to assess drought conditions and their impact on agriculture, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Monday, as concerns grow over water availability for the remaining Kharif crop and the upcoming Rabi season.

Chouhan, who was speaking at the National Agriculture Conference on Rabi Campaign 2026 in New Delhi, said he would also visit the two states with his team to assess the situation.

Maharashtra has declared drought across nearly two-thirds of the state, while Karnataka is also facing drought conditions, the minister said. The Centre's assessment comes as states prepare their Rabi crop plans amid below-average rainfall and concerns over irrigation water and soil moisture.

The Union government had already scheduled an Inter-Ministerial Central Team visit to drought-affected districts of Karnataka from October 3. The team, led by agriculture ministry joint secretary Ajeet Kumar Sahu, is divided into three sub-teams for field assessments. The teams are scheduled to cover Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Davangere, Vijayanagara, Hassan, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Yadgir, Raichur, Bagalkote and Koppal, with Mandya potentially included in the assessment.

Centre asks states to match Rabi crops with water availability

Chouhan said water availability should be the starting point for deciding which crops are planted during the Rabi season. States have been asked to prepare a "water budget" before finalising their sowing plans, taking into account the water available for irrigation as well as moisture remaining in the soil.

Regions facing water shortages should prioritise crops requiring less irrigation, particularly pulses and oilseeds, while water-intensive crops should be cultivated only where adequate irrigation is available.

"Pulses require less water than wheat... so that may be a better option in areas which have seen rainfall stress," Chouhan said.

The Centre is also encouraging states to increase the area under pulses and oilseeds after the Kharif paddy harvest. Chouhan asked states to finalise their Rabi targets for crops such as gram, lentil and mustard and make arrangements for their procurement.

The emphasis on lower-water crops comes amid wider concerns over below-normal rainfall and changing weather patterns. The agriculture ministry has previously asked states to closely monitor rainfall, reservoir levels and agricultural conditions in areas vulnerable to water shortages.

Low soil moisture raises concern over Kharif output

The drought situation is also threatening the ongoing Kharif crop in several states. Chouhan said Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were facing drought-like conditions and urged farmers to select crops according to available water and soil moisture.

"If moisture is low, germination will not be proper and production will also be affected," he said.

Low soil moisture can affect crop establishment and yields, particularly in areas where sowing has been delayed. The Centre is therefore seeking regular information from states on crop conditions, sowing and germination, as well as pest attacks.

"Every week we review the condition of crops, sowing, market rates and pest attacks so that action can be taken wherever required," Chouhan said.

The minister said the Centre would use the field assessments in Karnataka and Maharashtra to develop a clearer picture of the drought situation and its impact on agriculture.

Karnataka has already identified 177 of its 240 taluks as drought-affected, according to reports, while the state has sought central assistance after estimating significant drought-related losses. The October assessment is expected to examine crop damage and ground conditions in the affected districts.

Chouhan has also said the impact of climate change was increasingly visible in agricultural conditions, with shifting weather patterns creating challenges for both Kharif and Rabi planning. He said the Centre and states would need to work together to respond to the water and crop risks.

For farmers in drought-affected areas, the immediate challenge is therefore twofold: protecting crops that are still standing during the Kharif season and ensuring that Rabi sowing does not exceed the water available for irrigation.