Severe drought grips Yavatmal; soybean, cotton crops badly hit, farmers fear crisis worse than 1972
Because drought conditions have emerged as early as September, raising concerns over water and fodder availability in the months ahead, farmers said the situation is particularly worrying.
They said repeated crop losses over the past three years have pushed many farming families into financial distress and forced farm labourers to look for work outside the district.
Maharashtra government announces drought relief measures
The Maharashtra government has meanwhile announced measures to tackle drought-like conditions in affected parts of the state.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said a Cabinet sub-committee headed by Chandrashekhar Bawankule would take decisions on relief measures. The state government said it would initiate assistance without waiting for Central aid and give priority to drinking water and fodder for livestock, with planning for the next seven to eight months. Crop-loss panchnamas in drought-affected areas were scheduled to begin from Wednesday. Soybean, cotton and maize were among the crops identified as being severely affected.
Farmers Demand Urgent Relief Amid Crop Failures
Farmers in Maharashtra are facing severe economic distress due to consecutive crop failures, particularly in soybean and cotton. Manish Jadhav highlighted that many cultivators are struggling to survive, prompting migration in search of work. He called for immediate financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh per hectare without restrictive conditions, alongside crop insurance benefits.
Durgadas Rathod, another farmer, expressed that the extent of the losses has made it impossible for many to recover their input costs. “We spent around Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 per acre on soybean, but the crop is so badly damaged that we may not get even a kilogram of produce,” he stated.
Farmers are increasingly concerned about their ability to meet household expenses, including children’s education and livestock care, as water and fodder shortages threaten to escalate into a larger crisis.