International Journal of Environment and Climate Change

The present investigation was carried out to study the effect of El Niño and La Niñaevents on food grain production during the period of 2001-2023 in Chhattisgarh state. Long term district wise (station wise) daily rainfall data for the period (1960-2023) were collected from the Department of Agricultural Meteorology, College of Agriculture Raipur (Chhattisgarh). El Niñoand La-Niña Years and Intensities based on Oceanic Nino Index (ONI) data for the period 1951-2023 were downloaded from the website of Golden gate weather services 2023. (https://ggweather.com/enso/oni.htm). Main objective of carrying out this study is impact assessment of these global phenomena in CG state and developing early warning systems for adaptation and mitigation strategies.  The mean and per cent change for both seasonal as well as annual rainfall was calculated for all districts of Chhattisgarh in Excel. Similarly, the per cent change in the area, production and productivity during the weak, moderate, strong and very strong El Niño years as well as weak, moderate and strong La Niña years were calculated using the standard methodology of departure from normal. Results revealed that generally El Niño and La Niña event occur every 3-4 years. El Niño event is more frequent than La Niña event. Weak El Niño and La Niña events are more frequent than other El Niño and La Niña events, respectively. Result on occurrence & frequency of El-Niño and La-Niña in Chhattisgarh state were analyzed since 1951. The average total foodgrain production and productivity of cereals, pulses and oilseed crops of Chhattisgarh state was found to decrease during El Niño years but no changes in crop acreage was observed. The decrease in total foodgrain production and productivity of crops might be attributed to decreasing S-W monsoon season rainfall caused due to El Niño effect in the region. It is the moderate El Niño category which is found to affect production and productivity of foodgrains adversely in the state. Chhattisgarh state received less than normal annual rainfall in this category and there was negative deviation by about 14 per cent. On an average there was decrease in acreage by about 2 per cent. In this category, production loss has been about 41 per cent and worst affected year was 2002-03 when loss in food grain production was about 54 per cent. Yield loss in moderate El Niño years has been about 27 per cent in the year 2009-10 to 53 per cent in the year 2002-03, both were all India severe drought years. Therefore, it has been inferred from the analysis that during all El-Niño years in the time period of 2001-23, Chhattisgarh state received less than normal annual rainfall and there was negative deviation by about 8 per cent. The mean rainfall during El Niño years was less than that during La Niña and normal years. The production loss effects in cereals, pulses and oilseeds -group was by about 15 per cent while productivity loss has been about 15 per cent but there was no change in acreage. The average total foodgrain production and productivity of cereals, pulses and oilseed crops of Chhattisgarh state was found to increase during La Niña years due to increasing quantity of S-W monsoon season rainfall in the region. Looking into this situation and making use of the available information of these events and studies carried out in Chhattisgarh state, strategic state level plan should be developed for the benefit to farming community.