Since the southwest monsoon got impacted by the El Nino factor, farmers in Western Vidarbha were hit the hardest. Sowing done in 40 lakh Ha farmland is estimated to have been impacted by sharp shortfall in rains. As has been reported earlier, the month of August was one of the most driest in the recent years and the signs of crops wilting due to intense heat is quite visible across the region. In five districts of Amravati, Akola, Yavatmal, Buldhana and Washim, on an average the rain deficit is estimated to be 58 per cent, which is quite substantial.

 

Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti has urged the State Government to immediately order a survey of the ground situation and do not wait till the crops get wilted as by that time farmers would be in total soup. Any aid at this stage itself can atleast salvage the situation for farmers ahead of Rabi, and he pointed out that the crop survive on basis of moisture in the soil and not on the average of rainfall.

 

The situation of crops in all these five districts is quite critical. From Eastern Vidarbha region, Wardha is the only one in deficit. During Kharif season, farmers rely on soyabean, cotton and tur and in case if the month of September too witnesses a dry spell, then there is imminent threat of drought. The two months, July and August as per farmers is most critical for the growth of crops, as sowing starts from late June and by mid July maximum farm land is covered with seeds. Thereafter for steady growth, intermittent spell of rains are necessary, first post sowing and then periodically during various stages of crop growth. Long period of dry spell has direct impact on the growth of crops, in terms of fruiting, relating to its height or weight of lentils, especially in case of tur or soyabean. Akola is worst-affected as the rain deficit here has reached 84 per cent. In case of Amravati district, the shortfall is about 82 per cent, as to Yavatmal the scenario is 78 per cent drop, at Buldhana the situation is minus 61 per cent and in Washim it is 71 per cent below the season’s average rainfall is recorded till date.

 

Compared to Western Vidarbha, the situation in Eastern Vidarbha is bit okay, though the deficit is more or less the same, the intermittent spell did provide some solace to farmers in Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Gadchiroli and Chandrapur. Perhaps the pass over from the neighbouring Madhya Pradesh aided the crops in this part of Vidarbha, as the Central parts of country has received abundant rains during the last two months. But in Western Vidarbha, it plays an important role in keeping the oil seeds production in the country stable, as the five districts have ample sowing of soyabean, tur, plus green gram and black gram. Given the prediction of extended spell of El Nino, the farmers in Western Vidarbha are in desperate situation and have pinned high hopes on Maharashtra Government to carry out scientific survey of the region and take effective steps to address the situation.