Unseasonal Rains Wreak Havoc on North Maharashtra's Rabi Harvest
In a severe blow to the agricultural sector, unseasonal rainfall that swept through parts of north Maharashtra in late June has inflicted significant damage to rabi crops spread over a vast area of 24,162 hectares. The unexpected weather event has directly impacted the livelihoods of 29,461 farmers across 470 villages, according to officials from the state agriculture department.
Key Crops Suffer Extensive Losses Due to Sudden Downpour
The sudden spell of rain on June 27, accompanied by powerful winds, caused substantial losses to critical rabi crops. The affected produce includes maize, wheat, jowar, banana, gram, onion, and bajra. The majority of the devastation was concentrated in the Jalgaon and Dhule districts, highlighting the localized intensity of the unseasonal weather pattern.
An agriculture department official provided a detailed breakdown, stating, "Of the total affected area, Jalgaon district alone accounted for a staggering 21,809 hectares of crop loss, while Dhule reported damage across 2,353 hectares." In a contrasting note, the Nandgaon and Yeola talukas of Nashik district, which also received unseasonal showers on the same day, did not report any significant agricultural damage.
Jalgaon District Emerges as the Epicenter of Agricultural Distress
The impact in Jalgaon was particularly severe, with as many as 27,631 farmers across 455 villages hit by the crop losses. The department official elaborated on the specific crop damage within the district:
- Maize: 8,219 hectares
- Wheat: 6,577 hectares
- Jowar: 2,821 hectares
- Banana: 2,102 hectares
- Gram: 1,409 hectares
- Onion: 116 hectares
Erandol taluka emerged as the worst-affected region in Jalgaon, with crop damage reported on 5,398 hectares. It was closely followed by other severely impacted talukas:
- Muktainagar: 4,759 hectares
- Chopda: 3,728 hectares
- Parola: 2,945 hectares
Additional affected areas included Raver (1,677 hectares) and Dharangaon (1,207 hectares), while Jalgaon, Bhusaval, and Yawal talukas also recorded scattered losses, compounding the district's agricultural crisis.
Dhule District Also Reports Significant Agricultural Setbacks
In Dhule district, the Shirpur taluka bore the brunt of the damage, with losses reported across 2,353 hectares. This affected 1,830 farmers from approximately 15 villages. The unseasonal rainfall and accompanying gusty winds adversely impacted key crops in the region, including wheat, maize, jowar, and onion.
The widespread nature of this crop damage underscores the vulnerability of the agricultural sector to erratic weather patterns. The state agriculture department continues to assess the full extent of the losses as farmers grapple with the aftermath of this untimely climatic event.
