The kharif crop situation across drought-hit parts of Maharashtra is extremely grim

Members of the team visit drought-affected villages in Solapur district

The 11-member delegation, which ended its three-day ground survey on Saturday, observed extensive crop damage and a critical situation in many talukas, depleted water bodies and concerns over availability of drinking water for livestock across Marathwada, Vidarbha and parts of western Maharashtra, including Ahilyanagar and Solapur districts. The state govt has declared drought in 265 of the 358 talukas, roughly 74% of Maharashtra, and asked the Centre for Rs 17,500 crore as drought relief in its interim report. some members indicated it will be done in a few days While no deadline has been announced for submission of the report.

Pune/Mumbai: The kharif crop situation across drought-hit parts of Maharashtra is extremely grim, with instances of zero yield in some areas, according to a member of the inter-ministerial central assessment delegation. CM Devendra Fadnavis expressed apprehensions that owing to water scarcity, farmers will not get the opportunity to make up for the season’s losses from rabi or summer crops. Fadnavis on Sunday chaired a meeting with the delegation and senior officials of the state agriculture department to discuss the findings.

Muktanand Agarwal, joint secretary in the Union department of agriculture and farmers welfare, who led the delegation, told TOI that the team toured affected villages extensively and members spent more than 10 hours a day documenting the situations. He said the available fodder stock in various districts will last 90-120 days, adding that its production will be increased in watershed areas. A senior agriculture department official said the state’s ground-truthing exercise and crop-loss panchnamas will be completed by Oct 20 and the final memorandum will likely be submitted to the Centre before Oct 23.

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The central team sought a detailed memorandum from the state on the extent of crop loss, fodder scarcity and expected water shortage, said officials. Fadnavis said the Centre had assured the state govt that an inter-ministerial group meeting will be held soon to speed up assistance. Fadnavis said the soybean crop had been hit the hardest in many places owing to a break in rains for about two months. Cotton, tur and sugarcane crops had also been affected, he said. He said the available fodder will be purchased at a govt-determined rate and arrangements will be made for its storage. If necessary, fodder will be procured from other states, he said. Meanwhile, deputy CM and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde told reporters that his party will assist drought-hit farmers and take up the responsibility of their children’s marriages.

“The state govt will submit a detailed and accurate statement based on statistics as per the norms of the central govt. The Union agriculture minister asked us to submit an advance statement and we submitted it. Download the TOI App.