Telangana Minister G. Vivek Venkataswamy has urged farmers to avoid cultivating water-intensive crops such as paddy this season, warning that the state is likely to experience below-normal rainfall over the next three months due to the El Niño effect. Addressing an awareness programme titled “El Niño Weather Conditions and Alternative Crops” at the Rythu Vedika in Chegunta, Medak district, the minister said growing crops that require large quantities of water could result in significant financial losses if rainfall remains below average. Agriculture experts and officials also briefed farmers on expected weather conditions and recommended suitable alternative crops.

The minister said the rainfall situation had already been reviewed by the state Cabinet under the leadership of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, following which officials were instructed to conduct village-level awareness programmes across Telangana. He encouraged farmers to diversify their cultivation by choosing crops that require less water and highlighted oil palm as a promising long-term option. According to the minister, both the Central and Telangana governments provide subsidies for oil palm cultivation, and farmers can begin earning a stable income from the fourth year onwards. He also appealed to the public to cooperate if power restrictions become necessary due to falling reservoir levels, stressing that drinking water would remain the government’s top priority.

During his visit to Chegunta, Vivek Venkataswamy also attended a school kit distribution programme at the Government High School, where he encouraged students to achieve success through discipline and hard work. Referring to two local students who secured admission to the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), he said government school students are capable of reaching the country’s top institutions. Responding to a long-standing demand from local residents, the minister assured that he would pursue the proposal for establishing a government degree college in Chegunta. He also highlighted the state’s Advanced Technology Centres and overseas employment initiatives aimed at improving skill development and creating better job opportunities for Telangana’s youth.