Heavy Rains Batter Maharashtra and Gujarat; Cotton Crop in Peril
Jalgaon (Maharashtra)/Nasvadi (Gujarat): Persistent heavy rainfall has compounded the woes of farmers in the cotton-growing regions of Maharashtra and Gujarat. In Maharashtra's Jalgaon district, waterlogging is fueling a rapid spread of root rot disease in cotton crops, while in the Nasvadi taluka of Gujarat's Chhota Udepur district, river flooding has submerged approximately 100 acres of agricultural land. Crops such as maize, pigeon pea (arhar), and vegetables, alongside cotton, have been severely affected. Farmers fear that this dual crisis of flooding and disease could deal a serious blow to their financial stability.
Heavy rains and flooding on July 30 and 31 affected cotton crops across approximately 35,000 hectares in Jalgaon district. Plant growth has stalled in many fields due to lingering water stagnation. Waterlogging is accelerating the outbreak of root rot; in many areas, cotton plants that previously appeared lush and green are suddenly wilting and drying up. Agricultural experts warn that failure to control the disease in time could lead to a significant drop in production.
According to the Cotton Research Center (Jalgaon) of Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, this disease affects both indigenous and American cotton varieties. Prolonged water stagnation in the soil promotes the rapid growth of the disease-causing fungus, which then spreads across the field via rainwater or irrigation water. In infected plants, roots rot, the bark peels off easily, and the plants suddenly wilt and collapse. A key symptom of the disease is the discoloration of the lower root section—turning yellow initially and later black.
Experts have advised farmers to immediately arrange for field drainage, remove and destroy infected plants, and apply a treatment by dissolving 700 grams of Copper Oxychloride in 100 liters of water and pouring it around the base (root zone) of the plants. Mounding soil around the base of the plants is also recommended if necessary. Meanwhile, in Khodiya village of Nasvadi Taluka, Chhota Udepur district, Gujarat, flooding in the Main River following continuous rainfall has caused severe losses to farmers. Driven by the strong current, river water surged into the fields, completely submerging crops—including cotton, maize, pigeon pea (arhar), and vegetables—across approximately 100 acres of land. The accumulation of nearly two feet of silt buried the crops, destroying months of the farmers' hard work in a single night.
Local farmers have urged the administration to conduct an immediate survey and provide appropriate compensation and financial assistance. Agricultural experts believe that the ongoing heavy rains, waterlogging, flooding, and the rising incidence of diseases like root rot in Maharashtra and Gujarat could impact this season's cotton production. They state that timely drainage, disease management, and government support could significantly mitigate the losses faced by the farmers.
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