Team Blitz India
PUNE: Many parts of Maharashtra, including Solapur, Hingoli and some areas of Vidarbha had to face unseasonal heavy rain. It is estimated that about 50,000 hectares have been damaged.
“Over the next many days, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra will experience rainfall with thunderstorms,” an India Meteorological Department (IMD) release stated.
Farms spread over more than 1 lakh hectares of land have been impacted by the unseasonal rains. Crops including cotton, onion, grape, banana, sweet lime, orange, rice, jowar, wheat and gram across the state have been damaged.
The state Government has started to collect objective information on the damage caused by unseasonal rains. Officials have started assessing losses farmers have suffered.
As per Maharashtra State Grape Growers’ Association, grapes grown over 30,000 hectares of land have been affected in Nashik district. The early standing crop of grape and onion was destroyed. Besides, the fog and cold are taking a toll on the remaining crop.
Earlier too, farmers faced unseasonal rain but this time, the impact has been significant and extensive, and a huge belt has been affected. Farmers have demanded crop insurance cover for fruits and whoever demands, insurance must be given by the district administration.
Farmers have demanded insurance on the lines of kharif and rabi crop for fruit crop. The compensation given by the administration must be such that it should at least cover the production cost which is between Rs 2.30 lakh and Rs 3 lakh. They have demanded a solar panel subsidy from the government so that a permanent solution to this issue is found during times of crisis.
