How does El Nino affect the monsoon and my crop?

El Nino is a warming of the Pacific Ocean that often, but not always, leads to a weaker or more uneven Indian monsoon, so it is a risk signal, not a certainty. When an El Nino is expected, treat it as a warning to plan for the chance of less rain or longer dry spells, especially in rainfed areas. Practical steps are to lean towards drought tolerant and shorter duration crops and varieties, keep some land for a contingency crop in case sowing is delayed, harvest and store rainwater, and adopt water saving methods like mulching and efficient irrigation. Do not panic or change everything, because the monsoon also depends on other factors and some El Nino years still get normal rain. The right approach is to follow the IMD seasonal monsoon forecast and your KVK advisory as the season nears, and keep your plan flexible. For your own district, watch the official monsoon onset and progress updates rather than only the national headline, since rain varies a lot by region.