Maharashtra has declared drought in 265 of its 358 tehsils, about three-quarters of the state, and ordered an immediate assessment of crop losses after prolonged dry spells damaged standing crops, the Financial Express reported, citing The Indian Express.

The declaration came two days after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, touring rain-deficit areas, said a drought notification would follow. According to the Government Resolution, the Agriculture Commissioner's report found drought-like conditions in the 265 talukas from June onwards, and Trigger 1, which applies when there is a continuous dry spell of at least 21 days without significant monsoon rain, was met in these areas.

The state received 755.9 mm of rain between 1 June and 18 September against a normal 932.3 mm, a deficit of 18.8%. The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division, which includes Dharashiv and five other Marathwada districts, received 424.5 mm against 613.1 mm, a 30.8% shortfall; the Pune and Nashik divisions were about 30% short, Amravati and Nagpur about 27%, and Konkan 6.3%. At least six districts, including Amravati, Solapur and Latur, recorded deficits of 40–50%. The report links the shortfall to El Niño.

District collectors have been told to begin crop-loss assessments through panchnamas at once, documenting crop condition with GPS-tagged photographs and reporting through the Agriculture Commissioner. Cash assistance will be set in a separate Government Resolution after the assessment. Relief that takes effect immediately includes a waiver of land revenue, restructuring of crop loans and a stay on the recovery of agriculture-related loans.

In Washim district, where Fadnavis inspected farms in Karanja, Mangrulpir and Malegaon talukas, soybean and tur have been badly hit. "There is no water anywhere. Crops have dried up, especially soybean, which has been greatly affected," he said, warning of fodder and drinking-water shortages. He said loan relief alone would not be enough and that the state would give affected families direct assistance, foodgrains and support for rabi irrigation, create jobs through water-conservation works and try to deliver help before Diwali.

The report was written by Ajay Joseph.

Photo: Suhasajgaonkar / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Source: Financial Express Agriculture