25 August,2023 06:30 PM IST | Aurangabad | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde/ Pic/X
Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde said that six out of eight Marathwada region districts are reeling under drought-like situation - similar to the one witnessed in 2014. Munde's statement came on Friday after he conducted a review meeting on water availability, crops and cattle fodder in eight districts of Marathwada, stated a report in PTI.
He said that a policy decision needs to be taken on relief for farmers by way of part crop insurance pay out as automated machines are creating trouble while measuring gap between two showers of rain.
"Six districts may face drought this year. Only Hingoli and Nanded districts in Marathwada have received average seasonal rainfall so far. There is provision to give 25 per cent crop insurance amount to farmers if there is a rain gap of 21 days," he was quoted as saying in PTI report.
He further stated that automated machines are counting even negligible rainfall of 2-2.5 mm during the day, thus breaking the chain of (21) dry days. This break is creating hurdles in giving part crop insurance amount, he claimed.
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He also said that relief of rehabilitation minister has been urged to meet concerned Union ministers to find a way out on the issue and discuss the same in state cabinet meeting. He said that district collectors have been asked to visit every taluka and submit crop situation reports in a week.
Munde advocated to pull out all stops to ensure the farmers are given relief in connection to Rabi season crops and cattle fodder. "Forceful loan recovery from farmers must stop. Water available in projects in the region will be earmarked for drinking purposes. A mid-adversity survey will be carried out with the participation of agriculture, revenue departments and insurance firms," the minister said.
The Marathwada region - consisting of Aurangabad, Jalna, Parbhani, Beed, Osmanabad, Nanded, Hingoli and Latur - has not received rainfall for 52 days till August 24, PTI quoted an official as saying. The official said that the region has thus far received 372.30 millimetres of rainfall against the average of 469.90 mm. "In 2014, the region got just 414 mm in the season against the average of 779 mm," the official pointed out.
With PTI inputs
