October’s untimely rains damage crops in 12,86,783.28 ha in Vid
| Date :07-Nov-2019 |
Staff Reporter :
Buldana district worst-hit followed by Akola, Washim, Amravati, and Yavatmal districts
Untimely rains in October have caused heavy damage to crops in Vidarbha region. As per the preliminary report compiled by the administrative machinery, standing crops in 12,86,783.28 hectares in Vidarbha have been damaged. This has affected farmers in 8,179 villages in 11 districts of the region. Vidarbha has two administrative divisions -- Nagpur and Amravati. Nagpur division has six districts namely Nagpur, Wardha, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur, and Gadchiroli. Whereas, Amravati division has five districts namely Amravati, Akola, Buldana, Washim, and Yavatmal.
The untimely rains that lashed the region particularly in the second half of the month of October resulted in widespread distress among farmers. For, it damaged the crop that was either harvested and kept in the open or ready for harvesting. The major crops that got affected include soyabean, cotton, paddy, and tur. Jowar, and horticulture crops also got damaged but to a lesser extent. As per the official data, Buldana district is the worst-hit with damage caused to crops in 5,19,196 hectares. It is followed by Akola, Washim, Amravati, and Yavatmal districts. Amravati Division has suffered damage to crops in 11,96,052 hectares in 5,718 villages in five districts.
This has affected total 10,52,022 farmers in Amravati division. Nagpur Division has suffered damage to crops in 90,731.28 hectares in 2,461 villages in six districts. However, as per the statistical report, the administrative machinery in Nagpur division is yet to arrive at even an estimated number of farmers affected. Farmers in Vidarbha, thus, have suffered damage to crops in 12,86,783.28 hectares due to unseasonal rainfall in the past few weeks. In Nagpur Division, crops in 90,731.28 hectares have suffered damage due to untimely rains. As far as Nagpur district is concerned, 299 villages in Ramtek, Umred, Kamptee, Katol, Kalmeshwar, Mouda, and Bhiwapur tehsils stand affected. Maximum damage is caused to paddy crop in 6,339.43 hectares, followed by damage to cotton crop in 802.92 hectares, soyabean in 63 hectares, maize in 2.30 hectares, and tur in one hectare.
In Nagpur division, Chandrapur has suffered the highest damage. There, too, maximum damage is caused to cotton crop in 41,840.65 hectares, followed by that to paddy in 16,381.43 hectares, and soyabean in 10,713.40 hectares. Entire damage caused to crops in Bhandara, Gondia, and Gadchiroli districts, is caused to paddy crop. According to officials in the know of things, untimely downpour has affected soyabean the most. At many places, farmers had harvested soyabean crop and had spread the same in the open for drying up. However, untimely rains soaked the harvested crop and the soyabean has started rotting. The soyabean still in the field has developed sprouts.
In case of cotton crop, the bolls got soaked. The moisture content is sure to affect the prospects of a good return for farmers. Besides, cotton bolls have dropped on the ground due to rain-lashing. Tur crop also got wet and caught moisture. Jowar pods are turning black. In case of horticulture crops, fruits dropped on ground. “Farmers are in a fix. They lost the crop that had either come to harvesting or was harvested in Kharif season. Now, they are not in a position to prepare well for Rabi season. For, the prices of seeds and other inputs have risen and they are yet to get returns from Kharif crops,” said an official, on the condition of anonymity.