Western Vidarbha is likely to face irrigation stress and groundwater depletion risk in the next 30 years as the five districts of the region will witness 9-14 dry years between the year 2025 and 2055, claimed a study. The study named “Future climate projections for Western Vidarbha Region”, conducted by researchers Rasika Burghate, M U Kale, M S Supe and M M Deshmukh, claimed that climate change is posing significant future challenges to agricultural systems in the five districts of Western Vidarbha -- Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Yavatmal and Washim covering the period 2025-2055. The study classified the wet and dry years of these five districts of Western Vidarbha which will play a major role in future agriculture crisis in the region.

 

 

The study stated near term water scarcity as the main challenge during dry years in these districts, and water-intensive crops like cotton and sugarcane will face irrigation stress and groundwater depletion risk in near future. The study also suggested that immediate remedial measures like shifting to drought-resistant varieties, promotion of millets, pulses and other drought-tolerant crops and expanding micro irrigation should be undertaken in the study in view to curb the future crisis. Vidarbha is characterised by a semi-arid climate with significant dependence on southwest monsoon rainfall for agriculture. Climate variability and recurring droughts have historically impacted agricultural productivity, farmers’ livelihoods, and regional water security. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) projects significant changes in South Asian monsoon patterns, with increased mean precipitation and enhanced variability. However, regional and district-level projections remain limited, creating a critical knowledge gap for local adaptation planning.

 

This study addresses this gap by providing high-resolution, district-specific climate projections for the 2025-2055 period. As per the study, years were classified in to three categories based on statistical thresholds derived from the historical distribution. The three categories are wet year, dry year and normal year. The study claimed that Yavatmal district will witness the highest 14 dry years in Western Vidarbha whereas Washim will witness 12 dry years between 2025 and 2055. Amravati will witness 10 dry years followed by Akola and Buldhana with 9 dry years each in the next 31 years. Similarly, Amravati, Akola, Buldhana and Washim will witness 11 wet years each out of 31 years whereas Yavatmal will witness the lowest 9 wet years. Yavatmal will also witness the lowest 8 normal years along with Washim (8 normal years). Amravati will witness 10 normal years, Akola and Buldhana will witness 11 normal years in the next three decades.