Maharashtra: Unseasonal rains hit rabbi crop, Nashik farmers worried

With unseasonal rains lashing the Nashik region for the last three nights, strong concerns have been raised for the agricultural scenario in the district since grapes, onions, paddy, wheat and other crops are being affected.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of continued rain showers and hailstorm in parts of the district. The unseasonal rains in mid November have caused concerns for the rabbi crop.

On Saturday, the district witnessed about 100mm of rainfall with intermittent heavy showers in the evening. On Monday, the rainfall was recorded as 239.4mm. On Saturday, Nashik Tehsil received the highest rainfall of the day with 28.9mm while on Sunday Nandgaon got 43mm of rainfall.

The climate throughout the day appeared to be normal except for the cloudy cover in the evening with increase in humidity. On Tuesday, the clouds covered the district all day long. However, it did not rain till early evening.

While there were predictions for a hailstorm, thankfully, the farmers were saved from the brunt of it. However, they were hit by the unseasonal rains that kept falling throughout the night.

Farmers in areas of Niphad, Pimpalgaon Baswant, Yeola where grapes and onions are the major crops, are a worried lot. Onion crop in areas of Malegaon, Manmad, Lasalgaon, Umrane, Deola, Kalwan, Niphad and Yeola have suffered damage. The paddy, nagali, varaie have suffered loss in areas of Trimbakeshwar, Igatpuri and other places.

Hundreds of acres under paddy cultivation now lies flat as the standing paddy crop ready to be harvested has been hit by unseasonal rains. The rice grains that are drenched now are likely to turn black.

The story is no different with onion. While onions have already been in short supply in the market due to the drought situation that led to the failure of the kharif crop, it was expected that the rabbi onion or the winter onion will ease the situation. "The onion is likely to again see the severity," opines Suresh Bhor, farmer from Chandori.

The winter or pol onion which was almost ready for harvest has come under the wrath of the unseasonal rains. The bulbs are now drenched and heavy as they are water laden and likely to rot. While those who were in process of planting for the summer onion are also affected as the saplings have not been able to withstand the blow of the showers, informs Bhor.

The grapes in the region too are under the cloud of infections and spread of diseases. "Season after season the story of grapes does not seem to be changing," opines Bhaskarrao Bankar, a grape grower from Pimpalgaon Baswant.

Those who have done the cutting of the plantation around 10 to 15 September, now have berries to the plants. The unseasonal showers have hit these berries which are water-laden. This will lead to cracking and falling of the bunches. Those vineyards in the flowering stage are hit as the rains have washed off the flowering with no hopes for the fruits to form; and those vineyards which are in the pre-flowering stage are likely to catch infections like the Downy that eats up the plants, states Bankar.

"Infections and diseases are likely to spread in such wet, cloudy weather. The crops have not seen the sun for two three days and this will result in decay of the berries and leaves. Farmers are awake all night to remove the water from the plants, leaves and berries thereby trying to save them from decay. But it's not easy: labour is not available at night, and if at all it comes, it's comes at a very high price. I myself have converted last two nights into days and am desperately trying to save my grapes," he said.

Bankar states that it is a very trying situation. "Every time we face damage due to nature, we build new hopes for a new season and try and stand up. But such beating time and again has affected our morale. Solutions like shed net, or new paper cover technology or plastic cover are expensive and we only hope that we get support from the government in the form of subsidy for these sheds," added Bankar.