Withered soybean crop in Washim tehsil of Dharashiv district
Pune: Crop-loss panchanamas will begin across Maharashtra from Tuesday following widespread damage to kharif yields caused by prolonged gaps in rainfall, state agriculture minister Dattatray Bharne said on Monday.
Shirur has so far experienced a rainfall gap of 51 days. It should be extended before Diwali so that they can sustain themselves during the coming rabi season,” said NCP’s Pawar who represents Karjat-Jamkhed in the Assembly.
Farmers and activists said the situation was worsening as cultivators faced losses after spending heavily on seeds, fertilisers and cultivation. Crops have completely dried up and we need immediate financial assistance,” said farmer activist Shantaram Sarvade from Khed tehsil. Fodder camps should start immediately,” said an affected farmer. Otherwise, they would not properly understand the losses,” said Sarika Ingle, a farmer from Shirur tehsil.
Opposition netas Rohit Pawar and Rajesh Tope, however, demanded immediate relief for farmers, arguing that panchanamas were unnecessary in areas where crops had suffered complete loss. They urged the state to provide blanket assistance without waiting for the formal assessment process. “The immediate relief to farmers should be the first and foremost task for govt. Pawar has been touring the affected districts in Vidarbha and Marathwada for the last two weeks. They also called for immediate arrangements for fodder and water for livestock. “In many fields, there is nothing left to assess. “Our crops have failed, but our cattle still need fodder. Farmers in eight drought-affected tehsils of Pune district also want immediate panchanamas of their crops. “We do not know when this process is going to begin. If they do it early, they would be able to assess the ground situation early.