Unseasonal rain damages kharif crop in maharashtra

Rice, maize, cotton, soybean and onion crops hit.

Standing kharif crops spread over a million hectares have been severely damaged due to the ongoing unseasonal rain in Maharashtra.

According to estimates by the commissionerate of agriculture, rice, maize, cotton, soybean and onion crops have been hit.

Of the million hectares, crops on a fifth have been 50 per cent damaged, leading to a demand from opposition parties and others for declaration of a ‘wet drought’ and hefty compensation to farmers.

Around 13.35 mn ha are covered by the kharif crop. State chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat told Business Standard: “Divisional commissioners and district collectors have been told to assess the ground situation and submit all details.” The government is expected to announce a package during the state legislature’s winter session, commencing from December 1 in Nagpur.

Acting agriculture commissioner Pandurang Watharkar said 19 districts had been hit. The damage was severe in Akola, Amravati, Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Gadchiroli, Nashik, Nagpur, Sangli and the Konkan region. “Paddy on 130,000 ha has been damaged.”