'Worse than 1972 drought': Farmers fear grows in Yavatmal as dry spell devastates soybean, cotton crops
YAVATMAL: Severe drought conditions in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district, particularly Pusad tehsil, have left soybean and cotton crops badly damaged, with farmers warning of a wider livelihood crisis if the dry spell continues.
Farmers said the situation is particularly worrying because drought conditions have emerged as early as September, raising concerns over water and fodder availability in the months ahead. 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.
Manish Jadhav, a farmer, said consecutive crop failures had left cultivators struggling to survive. "Soybean and cotton crops have been devastated. Farmers and farm labourers are migrating in search of work, while water and fodder shortages could become the next major crisis," he said, seeking Rs 1 lakh per hectare in immediate relief without restrictive conditions, along with crop insurance benefits.
Another farmer, Durgadas Rathod, said the losses had made it impossible for many cultivators to recover even 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 said.
Rathod said farmers were now worried about meeting household expenses, including children's education and the upkeep of livestock.
Sachin Sakhre said the impact was spreading to agricultural labourers, whose employment has declined as farm activity has dried up. He said several families were being forced to migrate towards cities and industrial areas in search of jobs.
Aaditya Jadhav accused the government and administration of failing to respond adequately to the situation and demanded immediate relief for drought-hit families.
Three years of crop lossesFarmers said Yavatmal has suffered repeated agricultural setbacks over the past three years, with excessive rainfall followed by prolonged dry spells damaging crops. The successive losses have affected household incomes and made it difficult for families to meet expenses related to food, education, healthcare and livestock.
The latest drought is also threatening farm-dependent workers and rural households. With agricultural employment shrinking, farmers said people were increasingly looking towards Pune, Mumbai, western Maharashtra and industrial areas for work.
Some farmers have compared the severity of the current conditions to the 1972 drought and warned that the situation could worsen if rainfall remains inadequate.
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. Crop-loss panchnamas in drought-affected areas were scheduled to begin from Wednesday.
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. Soybean, cotton and maize were among the crops identified as being severely affected.
Farmers said the situation is particularly worrying because drought conditions have emerged as early as September, raising concerns over water and fodder availability in the months ahead. 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.
Manish Jadhav, a farmer, said consecutive crop failures had left cultivators struggling to survive. "Soybean and cotton crops have been devastated. Farmers and farm labourers are migrating in search of work, while water and fodder shortages could become the next major crisis," he said, seeking Rs 1 lakh per hectare in immediate relief without restrictive conditions, along with crop insurance benefits.
Another farmer, Durgadas Rathod, said the losses had made it impossible for many cultivators to recover even 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 said.
Rathod said farmers were now worried about meeting household expenses, including children's education and the upkeep of livestock.
Sachin Sakhre said the impact was spreading to agricultural labourers, whose employment has declined as farm activity has dried up. He said several families were being forced to migrate towards cities and industrial areas in search of jobs.
Aaditya Jadhav accused the government and administration of failing to respond adequately to the situation and demanded immediate relief for drought-hit families.
Three years of crop lossesFarmers said Yavatmal has suffered repeated agricultural setbacks over the past three years, with excessive rainfall followed by prolonged dry spells damaging crops. The successive losses have affected household incomes and made it difficult for families to meet expenses related to food, education, healthcare and livestock.
The latest drought is also threatening farm-dependent workers and rural households. With agricultural employment shrinking, farmers said people were increasingly looking towards Pune, Mumbai, western Maharashtra and industrial areas for work.
Some farmers have compared the severity of the current conditions to the 1972 drought and warned that the situation could worsen if rainfall remains inadequate.
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. Crop-loss panchnamas in drought-affected areas were scheduled to begin from Wednesday.
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. Soybean, cotton and maize were among the crops identified as being severely affected.
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