Chittoor district faces fodder crisis as El Niño conditions intensify

Cattle graze on parched land near Nagari in Chittoor district. | Photo Credit: BY ARRANGEMENT With a prolonged dry spell since March of this year, Chittoor district, which holds the top position in the dairy sector in the State, is reeling under a severe fodder crisis. The prevailing distress has prompted the authorities to contemplate an extensive contingency plan to protect livestock and support farmers through the 2026-27 agricultural season.The district has recorded a severe rainfall deficit during the March–July 2026 period. From June 1 to July 28, the district received 66.8 mm of rainfall as against the normal 175.7 mm, a 62% deficit. This led to depleted groundwater reserves and the drying up of tanks, ponds, and irrigation channels across the district. The cultivation of groundnut,