Ganesh Patil using rotavator to destroy Soyabean crops
Solapur collector S Karthikeyan assesses crop damage due to deficient rainfall Solapur collector S Karthikeyan assesses crop damage due to deficient rainfall
I spent nearly Rs1 lakh on seeds, fertilisers and sowing operations across my 10-acre farm, from which I expected to earn at least Rs6 lakh. Last year, Solapur district witnessed a deluge after receiving 175 mm rainfall in Aug as compared to just 32mm this year in the same month. Sept 2025 reported 365mm rainfall against average monthly rainfall of 176 mm. “We are assessing the situation in all 11 talukas. Currently, talukas like Malshirad, Sangola, Mohol and Barshi meet the criteria for trigger 1 and trigger 2 assessment. The other talukas meet the trigger 1 criteria. Water supply to 42 villages is being done through tankers, if need arises we will increase tankers for drinking needs,” Karthikeyan said.
This year, Patil is using a rotavator to mow his soybean crop as the plants have withered due to shortage of water. The officials are reporting that crops like pea (tur), black gram (urad), soybean, sugarcane, maize, and acid lime (paper lemon) have been adversely impacted due to deficient rainfall. Farmers reported that crops sown in June–July have withered due to lack of subsequent rainfall. Farmers have requested water release from canals and asked for compensation for crops like black gram and pigeon pea that had to be cleared early due to moisture loss.
If it does not rain in Oct, the entire year will be unproductive for me,” Patil said. “At least the plants will decompose and become manure if they are unable to survive. Since the monsoon arrived late, I sowed soybean in July. Now, I will keep the land fallow and wait for good rainfall around mid-October to sow jowar during the rabi season. This time so far, in Sept Solapur district has received just 9mm showers. District collector S Kartikeyan visited Boramani and Dhotri in South Solapur taluka, as well as Walsang, Konhali, Kurnur, the Kurnur dam area, and Navindagi in Akkalkot taluka. He also directly interacted with the farmers to gather detailed information on crop conditions, rainfall gaps, soil moisture, availability of drinking water and livestock fodder. For declaring drought low rainfall and extended dry spells serve as key official triggers for declaring a drought. Sugarcane growth has stalled, and acid lime trees failed to set fruit.