Maharashtra: Rain Deficit Forces Cotton Farmers in Rajura to Re-sow Crops
By jayesh chouhan 2026-07-07 13:38:13
Maharashtra: Cotton Crop Threatened by Lack of Rain in Rajura; Farmers Face Challenge of Re-sowing
Cotton crops in the Rajura taluka of Maharashtra's Chandrapur district have been adversely affected by a lack of timely and adequate rainfall. Farmers had sown cotton on a large scale following light showers at the onset of the Mrig Nakshatra; however, the subsequent cessation of rain caused seeds to dry up within the soil in many areas. Farmers now face the crisis of re-sowing, raising concerns right at the start of the Kharif season.
Encouraged by sporadic rainfall over the initial two or three days, farmers had hoped for an early onset of the monsoon. Relying on this expectation, they sowed cotton seeds in the dry soil. However, the absence of rain over the past four to five days prevented the soil from retaining sufficient moisture, causing sprouts to perish in many locations before they could even emerge from the ground.
The situation remains critical in several villages across Rajura taluka, including Govari, Sasti, Povni, Sakhri, Chincholi, Kadholi, Manauli, Babapur, Charli, Nirli, Ghidshi, Mathra, Goyegaon, and Antargaon. Farmers state that despite incurring significant expenses on expensive seeds, fertilizers, and land preparation, the lack of rain has dashed their hopes.
The erratic weather pattern has further complicated farming plans. Farmers who had cultivated their land using loans or credit must now arrange additional funds for re-sowing, a situation likely to exacerbate their financial hardships.
Taluka Agriculture Officer Vinayak Payghan has advised farmers against taking the risk of sowing based solely on sporadic rainfall. According to him, sowing should only be undertaken once there has been at least 100 mm of rainfall and the soil holds adequate moisture.
Farmers explain that they had sown cotton anticipating good rainfall during the Mrig Nakshatra, but the absence of rain at this crucial juncture caused the sprouts to wither underground. This has resulted in severe crop damage, leaving many farmers with no choice but to re-sow.
