The weekly report paints a dire picture of even the Kharif season. As of October 26, 194 talukas have received less than 75 per cent rainfall this year.
Even as the state government declares a drought situation in 151 talukas in Maharashtra, a more worrisome figure was presented in the Agriculture Ministry's sowing report on Wednesday — only a little over seven per cent of all rabi farmland has seen sowed for the season. Last year, the number stood at 45 per cent.
Rabi crop season is from October to March. As per the report, a copy of which is in DNA's possession, winter crop has been sowed in only 3.99 lakh hectares out of the total 63.93 lakh hectares of land. Most farms will grow food grains such as jowar, wheat, corn, legume and other pulses, while oilseeds have been sown in just one per cent.
The weekly report paints a dire picture of even the Kharif season. As of October 26, 194 talukas have received less than 75 per cent rainfall this year.
The lack of rain has impacted crops in 1.41 lakh hectares of farmland, the report says. Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan says the BJP-led government is not considering the gravity of the agricultural crisis.
"Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is busy celebrating four years of his government," says the former chief minister, "But he needs to pay more attention to the ground situation." Chavan is currently touring various parts of the state as part of Congress' Sampark Yatra. "The government should immediately start importing cattle feed/fodder. They should also encourage farmers who have wells and tube-wells to use land for cultivation of fodder. We need to save livestock," he added.
Raju Shetti, MP and president of Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathana, says the government should promptly extend a relief package of Rs 50,000 per hectare to farmers. "This year, the kharif crop wasn't so good and now rabi crop will be worse. Those who suffered losses in both seasons will be in deep trouble," he says.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Farmer")
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}