{
  "id": 2795541,
  "title": "El Niño: Farmers urged to adopt protective irrigation methods in Sri Sathya Sai district",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/el-nino-farmers-urged-to-adopt-protective-irrigation-methods-in-sri",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-23T13:25:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/el-nino-farmers-urged-to-adopt-protective-irrigation-methods-in-sri-sathya-sai-district/article71381014.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The district administration of Sri Sathya Sai district has urged farmers to adopt protective irrigation, water-saving practices, and alternative crops to minimize losses due to intensified El Niño conditions and deficient rainfall. District Collector Shyam Prasad stated that only 45% of the district's normal cultivated area has been covered so far, with rainfall deficiency reaching 57%. Farmers are advised to manage water judiciously and irrigate crops with the required quantity only. All eligible farmers have been brought under crop insurance coverage. The administration has prepared 16,000 quintals of seeds at an 80% subsidy to encourage farmers to take up alternative crops if rains improve. Efforts are being made to expand the successful PMDS model from existing 94,000 acres to two lakh acres. Farmers are encouraged to dig farm ponds to capture rainwater and use it for irrigation during dry spells, while those with borewells are advised to adopt drip irrigation to reduce water wastage. Scientists are informed to demonstrate a soil-testing kit at workshops for farmers, and newly developed castor seeds are to be distributed to selected farmers for experimental cultivation. Collaboration among agriculture, DRDA, DWMA, AP Micro Irrigation Project, sericulture, marketing departments, scientists, NGOs, FPO representatives, and farmers is urged to overcome the El Niño impact.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Farmers urged to use protective irrigation methods against El Niño",
    "District covers only 45% of normal cultivated area, 57% rainfall deficiency",
    "Seed distribution and drip irrigation encouraged to mitigate El Niño impact"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}