Farmers in Andhra Pradesh have been urged to prepare for worsening water stress driven by El Niño, with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu warning of a rainfall deficit of around 36% between June and December 2026. According to the New Indian Express, the state was expected to receive about 867 mm of rainfall over the period, against a forecast of around 557 mm, while July alone recorded a deficit of 68%. The warning renewed calls to conserve water and avoid water-intensive crops. The report noted that farmers were encouraged to shift away from water-intensive paddy and switch to horticulture, millets, or dry-sowing methods like pre-monsoon dry sowing. It also highlighted that cashew and coconut plantations in North Andhra, along with horticultural crops in Rayalaseema, could face stress if dry conditions persist.
