El Niño and Food Security: Assessing Risks to Rabi Crop Productivity

For India, where a significant portion of the population remains dependent on agriculture, the impact of such geophysical phenomena extends beyond mere production statistics. It directly influences rural income, consumption patterns, and the overall health of the agrarian economy. The government’s focus on the Rabi crop cycle highlights the need for robust contingency planning, including the efficient management of buffer stocks and the potential deployment of technology-driven irrigation and crop-monitoring systems to mitigate climate-induced losses. As the nation navigates these climate-sensitive periods, the integration of meteorological data with agricultural policy remains a cornerstone of resilient governance. UPSC Relevance: This topic is highly relevant for GS Paper III, specifically under the sections concerning major crops, cropping patterns, and food security. Aspirants should be prepared to link climate-induced agricultural risks with broader economic issues like inflation management, the role of the Public Distribution System (PDS), and the necessity of climate-resilient agricultural practices in India.