Unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms have wreaked havoc in Maharashtra and Gujarat, damaging standing crops across vast areas. In Maharashtra, crops spanning over 99,381 hectares in 17 districts have been affected, while in Gujarat, the damage extends to over 3-4 lakh hectares.
Unseasonal Rainfall in Maharashtra and Gujarat
Both state governments have initiated separate studies to assess the extent of the crop losses for compensation to farmers. In Gujarat, the unseasonal rainfall has not only devastated homes and standing crops but also claimed the lives of at least 27 people.
State Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel stated that a state-wide survey has been authorized to analyze the crop damage. Once the report is received, impacted farmers will be compensated in accordance with State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) guidelines.
According to the data provided by the Agriculture commissionerate, approximately 33,951 hectares of agricultural land across 13 tehsils in Buldhana district, primarily used for vegetable cultivation, have been damaged. Similarly, around 32,833 hectares of land in 13 tehsils in Nashik district have also been adversely affected due to the rain and hailstorm.
In addition to the previously mentioned districts, 13 other districts have also experienced significant crop loss are Thane (53 ha), Palghar (41 ha), Dhule (46 ha), Nandurbar (2,239 ha), Jalgaon (552 ha), Pune (3,500 ha), Satara (15 ha), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (4,200 ha), Jalna (5,279 ha), Beed (215 ha), Hingoli (100 ha), Parbhani (1,000 ha) and Nanded (50 ha).
Majority crops got damaged in 17
The rains may have damaged standing crops covering an area of 3-4 lakh hectares, as cotton and toor crops are yet to be harvested. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has ordered the panchnama of these damaged crops and loss to farmers.
Preliminary estimates indicate that over 99,381 hectares of crops, including grapes, cotton, soybean, and other agricultural yield, were damaged in Maharashtra. The Chief Minister has asked the collectors of the respective states to order the local administrations to conduct the panchnama of the hailstorm-affected farms urgently.
Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde said that the majority of the crops got damaged in 17 districts of the state due to the hailstorm and unseasonal rainfall. The Gujarat Congress referred to the government’s announcement as a joke directed towards farmers.
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