Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday (September 28, 2026) said the Centre will send teams to Karnataka and Maharashtra to assess the drought situation in the two States.
Addressing a two-day national conference on preparedness for the upcoming rabi (winter) season, Mr. I have spoken with the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, who is concerned as well, and we will send a central team there too. “Crops have certainly been affected in places, though they have not failed everywhere. In many places the crop is very good, but there is a threat of drought and water scarcity in some regions,” Mr.
“We will send a central team to Karnataka on October 3 to assess the drought situation.
Chouhan said the effects of climate change were clearly visible, and the just-concluded kharif (summer) season had felt their impact. I, along with my team, will personally visit the States facing this crisis,” he said. Karnataka has declared a drought, while Maharashtra has declared drought across roughly two-thirds of the State, the Minister said. Chouhan said.
Mr. Earlier reporting noted: Centre to assess drought situation in Karnataka, Maharashtra: Chouhan The Centre will send teams to Karnataka and Maharashtra on October 3 to assess the drought situation as low water availability raises concerns over the remaining Kharif crop and the coming Rabi season, agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Monday. Karnataka is also facing a drought situation, he said while speaking at the National Agriculture Conference on Rabi Campaign 2026 in New Delhi.
Chouhan said there had been concerns over the impact of El Nino, but commended officials and their teams for their work during the kharif season. “We must tackle this challenge together while also preparing for the rabi season,” he said. He also said he would visit both states with his team to assess the situation. Earlier reporting noted: Maharashtra has already declared a drought at the state level, with nearly two-thirds of the state affected, Chouhan said. Chouhan said that rainfall has been below average and asked states to assess the water available for irrigation and the moisture remaining in the soil before deciding their Rabi crop plans.
Earlier reporting noted: The immediate concern is water availability for agriculture.
