Heavy Rains in Maharashtra Affect Crops Across 2.75 Lakh Hectares
Pune: Farmers in Maharashtra have suffered significant losses due to continuous heavy rainfall. According to preliminary reports from the State Agriculture Department, crops across approximately 2.75 lakh hectares of agricultural land have been affected so far. This figure includes about 75,000 hectares impacted in just the last few days. The extent of the damage could rise further as the rains continue.
The Agriculture Department reports that the Vidarbha and North Maharashtra regions have sustained the most damage. Crops such as cotton, soybean, maize, moong (green gram), urad (black gram), arhar (pigeon pea), bajra (pearl millet), jowar (sorghum), vegetables, sugarcane, bananas, papayas, and lemons have been affected.
Among the districts, Amravati is the worst-hit, with reports of crop damage spanning over 71,909 hectares. Jalgaon has seen damage across more than 50,000 hectares, while Yavatmal has reported damage to over 25,803 hectares.
State Agriculture Commissioner Suraj Mandhare stated that damage reports are still coming in from various villages; consequently, the total affected area could increase. The Agriculture Department is currently assessing the crop damage in the affected villages.
The Konkan region has also been impacted by heavy rains. In Raigad, over 2,000 hectares of paddy nurseries have suffered damage. This situation may force farmers to prepare nurseries again and could delay paddy transplantation.
Farmers note that the impact of the damage may persist even after the rain stops. Prolonged waterlogging in fields can damage plant roots and increase the risk of crop diseases.
Agricultural experts have advised farmers to drain excess water from their fields and monitor crops for signs of disease. The actual extent of the damage caused by the rains will only be known once a detailed survey is completed.
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