3 days ago
India's Dry Conditions Prompt Water-Saving Lessons From Beed Farmer
Many parts of India have not received enough rain.
This has left the soil and water supplies drier than usual.
In Beed, farmer Parmeshwar Thorat grows avocados with limited water.
He uses drip irrigation to send water directly to plant roots.
He collects rainwater in a farm pond for use during dry months.
He prepares the soil with pits and cow dung manure before planting.
He also uses natural farming methods instead of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
Thorat chose an avocado variety he believed could handle Beed’s hot temperatures.
His farm shows how careful water use and suitable crops can help during dry periods.
More than half of India’s area was under dry or drought conditions on 16 September 2026, up from 38.9% a month earlier.
Marathwada recorded a 36% rainfall deficit between 1 June and 20 September, while some areas experienced two- to three-week dry spells.
Beed farmer Parmeshwar Thorat manages water scarcity on his 1.75-acre farm by using drip irrigation and storing rainwater.
Thorat prepares soil with two-by-two-foot pits and cow dung manure, and has shifted toward organic farming practices.
He selected the Arka Supreme avocado variety after researching its suitability for Maharashtra’s hot climate.
- Who
- Farmers in drought-affected parts of India, including Beed farmer Parmeshwar Thorat.
- What
- Dry conditions have expanded across India, while Thorat’s water-saving farming methods provide an example for managing scarce water.
- Where
- Across parts of India, especially Maharashtra’s Marathwada region and Thorat’s farm in Beed.
- When
- The India Drought Monitor assessment cited conditions as of 16 September 2026; Marathwada’s rainfall deficit was measured from 1 June to 20 September.
- Why
- Reduced rainfall, prolonged dry spells, depleted soil moisture and water scarcity are increasing pressure on farmers.
Key facts
- Area under dry or drought conditions
- 52.5% of India’s area as of 16 September 2026
- Previous dry-area assessment
- 38.9% about one month earlier
- Marathwada rainfall deficit
- 36% between 1 June and 20 September
- Thorat’s farm size
- 1.75 acres in Beed, Maharashtra
- Water-saving method
- Drip irrigation delivers water directly to plant roots
- Rainwater storage
- A farm pond captures monsoon runoff for use during dry months
- Soil preparation
- Two-by-two-foot pits were filled with cow dung manure before planting
Quotes
Parmeshwar Thorat
Beed farmer who uses water-saving techniques on his avocado farm
“Farming is not easy. There will always be challenges, but with determination and a willingness to learn, you can overcome anything.”
thebetterindia.com
“We collect as much rainwater as possible during the monsoon and use it during the dry seasons. It helps keep the farm sustainable.”
thebetterindia.com
Sources
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