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Central Team Assesses Drought-Hit Farms in Maharashtra's Beed
A long period without enough rain has caused a serious drought in Beed, Maharashtra.
Many farmers say their crops have dried up or are producing far less than expected.
Some fruit orchards are also drying, and farmers worry they will take a long time and a lot of money to rebuild.
Water supplies are low, including in a reservoir that helps provide drinking water to Beed city.
People who keep cattle say they may soon run short of food for their animals.
A team of government officials visited farms and spoke with farmers about the damage.
Farmers asked for financial help, support for farm ponds, and places to get fodder.
Maharashtra has also declared drought in 265 talukas and announced several relief measures.
A central and state team toured Beed district for a second day to assess drought conditions and kharif crop damage.
Farmers requested orchard assistance, farm-pond subsidies, and government fodder depots and cattle camps.
The Bindusara reservoir, which supplies Beed city, held just five per cent of its live storage, compared with full capacity at the same time last year.
Farmers reported severe losses in soybean, onion, maize, marigold and fruit orchards, while livestock owners warned that fodder supplies were running low.
On September 26, Maharashtra declared drought in 265 of its 358 talukas and announced loan restructuring, land-revenue concessions and power-bill subsidies.
- Who
- A central and state government team, including Muktanand Agrawal, Parimal Singh and Beed district collector Dr Vivek Johnson, assessed conditions and met farmers.
- What
- The team inspected drought-related crop damage and heard requests for relief.
- Where
- Beed district, Maharashtra, including villages in Beed and Patoda tehsils.
- When
- The inspection continued for a second day on Saturday; the state drought declaration was made on September 26.
- Why
- A prolonged dry spell and rainfall deficit have caused crop losses, depleted water supplies and created fodder shortages.
Farmers' requests
Government response reported
Immediate drought relief
Farmers' requests
Farmers urged officials to assess losses on the ground and deliver help quickly, including orchard aid, farm-pond subsidies, fodder depots and cattle camps.
Government response reported
The article reports state measures including crop-loan restructuring, land-revenue concessions and power-bill subsidies; it does not say whether the visiting team accepted the specific requests.
Key facts
- Drought declaration
- Maharashtra declared drought in 265 of 358 talukas on September 26.
- Bindusara reservoir
- Its live storage was reported at five per cent, compared with 100 per cent at the corresponding time last year.
- Beed city water demand
- Around 38 million litres per day.
- Rainfall deficit
- The dry spell included a rainfall deficit lasting nearly 65 days.
- Farmer requests
- Rs 2 lakh per hectare to protect standing orchards, Rs 50,000 for farm ponds, and the opening of government fodder depots and cattle camps.
- State relief measures
- Crop-loan restructuring, land-revenue concessions and power-bill subsidies.
- Fodder estimate
- Two dairy farmers from Bedukwadi said their home-grown fodder would last about 15 more days.
Sources
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