The Andhra Pradesh drought 2026 has been officially declared across most of the state. On October 1, the state government’s Revenue (Disaster Management) Department notified 388 of Andhra Pradesh’s 688 mandals as drought-affected for the South-West Monsoon Kharif 2026 season — 283 classified as “severely affected” and 105 as “moderately affected”. The declaration covers 21 of the state’s 26 districts, making this one of the widest drought notifications in recent years.
The Scale of the Andhra Pradesh Drought 2026
The numbers tell a stark story. Between June 1 and August 31, the state received an average rainfall of just 197.6 mm against the normal 424.3 mm — a deficit of 53.4%. The government order attributes the shortfall to prevailing El Niño conditions combined with prolonged dry spells during the critical sowing months.
The affected districts stretch from Srikakulam in the north to Chittoor in the south: Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Kakinada, East Godavari, Eluru, Krishna, NTR, Guntur, Bapatla, Palnadu, Prakasam, Markapuram, Kurnool, Nandyal, Ananthapuramu, Sri Satya Sai, YSR Kadapa, Annamayya and Chittoor. YSR Kadapa alone accounts for 37 drought-hit mandals, followed by Sri Satya Sai, Palnadu, Prakasam, Nandyal and Ananthapuramu.
Why the Declaration Came Early
Under the Government of India’s Manual for Drought Management (2016), states typically complete drought declarations for the Kharif season by October 31. Andhra Pradesh chose not to wait. A high-level Committee on Drought, meeting on September 30, recommended an early declaration so that relief measures and institutional credit support could reach affected farm households immediately.
The early move matters because drought notification is the legal trigger for a package of interventions: input subsidies, crop-loss compensation claims, rescheduling of farm loans, and employment generation works. For a farmer whose Kharif crop has already failed, a declaration in October rather than November can mean the difference between getting credit for a Rabi crop and falling into a debt trap.
Rayalaseema Bears the Brunt
The pain is concentrated in Rayalaseema. Of the 388 drought-declared mandals, 186 are in the region, and 159 of the 283 severely-affected mandals fall there too. The opposition YSR Congress Party claims nearly seven lakh borewells had dried up by August, mango and citrus orchards are withering, and farmers are depending on water tankers to save plantations.
For lakhs of small and marginal farmers, a failed Kharif means lost income, unpaid crop loans, and the gamble of a Rabi season with depleted groundwater. Farm labourers face shrinking work as sowing and harvesting activity collapses. Andhra Pradesh is not alone — Karnataka and Maharashtra are also dealing with significant monsoon deficits this year, which could tighten national supplies of some crops and push food prices up.
Relief Measures and the Political Fight
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has linked the crisis to long-term water management, arguing that interlinking the Godavari and Cauvery river systems could make southern states drought-free. Speaking at the launch of the “Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 – Amarajeevi Jaladhara” programme in Proddatur, he pointed out that while drought prevails, around 2,000 TMC of river water flows into the sea — and diverting even 200 TMC of Godavari floodwater could transform Rayalaseema.
The opposition, meanwhile, has attacked the government on two fronts: the YSRCP alleges the declaration was delayed despite conditions turning severe “from the first week of September itself”, and has slammed the exclusion of Nellore district, claiming several of its mandals also received deficient rainfall. Whether the relief machinery now moves fast enough to reach farmers before the Rabi season will be the real test of the early declaration.
Sources: The Indian Express, The New Indian Express
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the drought this year?
A 53.4% rainfall deficit during June–August 2026 — the state received 197.6 mm against the normal 424.3 mm — compounded by prevailing El Niño conditions and prolonged dry spells during the Kharif sowing season.
What relief do farmers get after a drought declaration?
The declaration triggers input subsidies, crop-loss compensation processes, rescheduling of agricultural loans, and employment works. It also helps farmers access institutional credit for the Rabi season instead of turning to moneylenders.
Why is the opposition criticising the government?
The YSRCP alleges the declaration came late despite severe conditions from early September, and questions why Nellore district was excluded. It also claims nearly seven lakh borewells dried up by August and orchards are withering in Rayalaseema.
Which region is worst affected?
Rayalaseema, with 186 of the 388 drought-hit mandals and 159 of the 283 severely-affected ones. YSR Kadapa has the highest district tally at 37 mandals.
