Revanth orders 24x7 power supply to save crops amid El Niño

The Indian subcontinent is experiencing a strong El Niño episode that has lowered monsoon rainfall across large parts of Rajasthan. Farmers in the state rely heavily on electric pump sets to draw water from wells and canals, and the reduced precipitation has left many fields without enough moisture. Crop yields for wheat, mustard and pulses are projected to fall sharply unless irrigation can be maintained, prompting the state government to look for emergency measures.

Revanth, who heads the state's agriculture department, issued an order that electricity supply to agricultural pump sets will be made available 24 hours a day for the next six months. The directive instructs the state power utility to prioritize farm connections, bypassing usual load‑shedding schedules that affect residential consumers during peak demand periods. Officials say the plan will be funded through a special relief budget, and that additional transformers will be installed in high‑need districts to avoid overloads.

Experts warn that continuous power use could strain the grid, especially as Rajasthan also faces high summer temperatures that increase overall electricity demand. The government has promised to monitor consumption closely and to rotate supply if any area shows signs of stress. If the scheme succeeds, it could reduce the financial loss for small and marginal farmers, who often cannot afford diesel generators as an alternative. The broader impact may include stabilising food prices in northern India and providing a model for other states confronting similar climate‑related challenges.