Inside El Nino – India's shift to drought-resistant crops

As part of CGTN's special series Inside El Niño, this report looks at southern India, a major contributor to the country's rice production, where the threat of disrupted monsoon rains is prompting a shift away from water-intensive paddy. In Telangana, one of the largest rice-growing states, authorities have rolled out contingency plans encouraging farmers to switch to short-duration, drought-tolerant crops such as millet, while sharing updates on reservoir levels and water availability to help them make informed choices. Some growers have already made the change after attending government sessions, yet others remain cautious because alternative crops often lack the same assured support prices or subsidies available for rice. At the same time, local seed-saving communities are stepping in as mentors, sharing climate-resilient varieties and knowledge to support those willing to diversify. With experts warning that a strong El Niño could push tens of millions more people into acute food insecurity worldwide, India's efforts aim not only to shield farmers from crop losses but also to safeguard the nation's overall food security in an increasingly unpredictable climate.