Excessive rain in September wipes out Kharif crops in Marathwada

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Compared to June, July, and August, the maximum damage to Kharif crops in Marathwada occurred between 12 and 21 September. Heavy rainfall over these eight days destroyed crops in around 3,820 villages. Political leaders’ inspections of the hail-like rains are in full swing, but for farmers, promises have so far amounted to little more than assurances. The region is currently facing hailstorm-like conditions, and the government has not yet made any official announcement. Crops that survived the heavy rainfall of the first three monsoon months were lost in just one week of September rainfall. Farmers are now demanding the declaration of a hailstorm/drought-like situation.

Daily rainfall-related damage:

13 Sept: 19

14 Sept: 53

15 Sept: 32

16 Sept: 41

17 Sept: 15

18 Sept: 05

19 Sept: 07

20 Sept: 10

21 Sept: 09

Total: 191

Damage Over Three Months:

Month Compensation Funds Approved by Affected Farmers

Demand Govt

June 14 crore v 14 crore 11,115

July ₹51 crore ₹51 crore 87,512

August ₹1,352 crore ₹630 crore 19,60,000

September ₹700 crore (est.) Decision Pending 7,92,919

Approximately 4.91 lakh hectares of crops were destroyed in just eight days of heavy rain in September. Over the past three months, excessive rainfall has caused damage to crops across 17 lakh hectares in Marathwada.

District-wise Loss (hectares):

Sambhajinagar: 1,51,100

Jalna: 5,122

Parbhani: 10,000

Hingoli: 11,000

Nanded: 3,51,000

Beed: 6,470

Dharashiv: 6,875

How drought is declared:

The government revised the Drought Management Code in 2016 (originally 2009). It checks first, second, and third-stage triggers. If rainfall is below normal in the first two monsoon months, along with indices for rainfall, vegetation, soil moisture, crop surveys, and final assessments, a drought can be declared. In the current scenario, June and July had below-average rainfall, August saw 1.5 times the average, and September has also received above-average rainfall