Stakeholders meet on ‘Mitigating El Niño Impacts on Kharif 2026 Agriculture’

Amid mounting concerns over erratic weather patterns threatening the ongoing Kharif season, the ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, Medziphema in collaboration with parent Institute ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, convened a stakeholder meeting on Mitigating El Niño Impacts on Kharif 2026 Agriculture to formulate a science-driven strategy to counter the adverse effects of El Niño on the state’s agriculture.

In his opening remarks, Dr Kadirvel Govindasamy, Director, ICAR RC for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, underscored the critical need for climate resilience, adaptive planning, and institutional readiness to protect farmers from adverse weather patterns.

In his closing remarks, Khonthungo Lotha, Joint Secretary, Government of Nagaland, praised the joint efforts of scientists and the state machinery, calling for seamless and rapid communication between research bodies and field departments to effectively deploy the mitigation strategies across Nagaland’s hills.

The technical session, chaired by Dr Girish Patil, Director, ICAR NRC Mithun, Medziphema, featured detailed scientific presentations that featured comprehensive, data-driven scientific presentations.

Concluding the event, Dr Girish Patil offered expert remarks, stressing the importance of protecting crops, livestock, and the broader tribal farming ecosystems from climate stress.

During the session, a detailed analytical overview was presented on the changing meteorological parameters, rainfall deficits, and temperature-related threats to crop yields in Nagaland.
Strategic contingency plans were highlighted to safeguard horticultural production in the northeastern region from extreme weather events and associated disruptions.

The discussions also focused on preparedness for El Niño conditions in hill ecosystems, with emphasis on the adoption of stress-tolerant crop varieties, cultivation of climate-resilient crops, and integration of conservation technologies.

The importance of soil and water conservation technologies, along with crop diversification through the inclusion of pulses and oilseeds, was also emphasized. The session further highlighted the release of seven newly developed high-yielding, climate-resilient rice varieties specifically suited to the agro-climatic conditions of Nagaland.

The technical deliberations were followed by an extensive interactive session with state officers from agriculture and allied departments, who discussed logistical challenges, immediate field implementation of tech-driven resource management, and the distribution of climate-resilient inputs.

The meeting was attended by Joint Directors, District Agriculture Officers (DAOs), and state officers from Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries & Aquatic Resources, faculties from SAS, Nagaland University, scientists from ICAR Nagaland Centre, Heads of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Chief Technical Officers, Subject Matter Specialists (SMSs), and technical officers, who actively participated in the day-long deliberations.