New Delhi, 23 June (H.S.):

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that India, along with the rest of the world, is currently facing the challenge posed by El Niño, which could have an impact on the agricultural sector. While the situation is a matter of concern, he asserted that the government is fully prepared to address every challenge.

Addressing a meeting held at the Ministry of Agriculture here on Tuesday, Chouhan said that the Narendra Modi-led government does not wait for problems to arise but formulates strategies and prepares in advance. He said the government's objective is to safeguard the interests of farmers and transform potential crises into opportunities.

The Union Minister said that efforts to minimise the impact of El Niño are being carried out in accordance with scientific protocols and the recommendations of experts. He stressed that the government's approach should not be merely reactive but should focus on advance preparedness.

Chouhan informed that the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has prepared contingency plans for every district across the country to deal with the possible impact of El Niño. He said the government's priority is to ensure the effective implementation of these plans so that they can be put into action immediately whenever required.

He urged district administrations, collectors, and all concerned departments to accord the highest priority to the implementation of these contingency plans. Chouhan said effective coordination among the departments of agriculture, water resources, rural development, and other related agencies should be ensured so that the contingency plans are implemented efficiently and farmers are protected from any potential crisis.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar