Central Team Evaluates Drought Impact in Beed District

A central team has been assessing the dire drought conditions in Beed district, Maharashtra, for the second consecutive day, focusing on the extensive damage to kharif crops. Farmers have urgently requested relief measures, highlighting the severe impact of the prolonged dry spell on their livelihoods.

The Beed district has been grappling with a significant drought, which has devastated crops and led to a critical shortage of water and fodder. The farmers are demanding financial assistance of ₹2 lakh per hectare to protect their standing orchards, along with a subsidy of ₹50,000 for farm ponds and the immediate opening of government fodder depots and cattle camps. The Bindusara reservoir, which serves as the primary water source for Beed city, has plummeted to just 5% of its live storage capacity, a stark contrast to the previous year’s full capacity.

The central team, which includes Union joint secretary Muktanand Agrawal and state agriculture secretary Parimal Singh, has been interacting with distressed farmers to assess the extent of crop damage. Reports indicate that the prolonged dry spell has resulted in a rainfall deficit of nearly 65 days, severely impacting soybean crops and leading to significant financial losses for farmers. For instance, farmer Sudhakar Thombre shared that he invested ₹54,000 in soybean cultivation but now expects a meager return of only ₹9,000 to ₹10,000.

The drought's effects extend beyond agriculture, with livestock owners facing challenges in securing adequate fodder. Farmers like Vaibhav and Ankush Shinde from Bedukwadi are concerned that their existing fodder supplies will last only another 15 days, threatening their dairy operations. The situation is critical, as farmers fear that without timely intervention, their livelihoods will be further jeopardized.

In response to the crisis, the Maharashtra government has declared drought in 265 of its 358 talukas, accounting for 74% of the state. Relief measures have been announced, including crop loan restructuring and land revenue concessions. The central team continues to evaluate the situation, urging officials to ensure that relief reaches affected farmers promptly, as the agricultural community faces unprecedented challenges due to the ongoing drought.