Mumbai, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to declare a state of drought in severely affected talukas and provide financial assistance of at least ₹ 50,000 per hectare to farmers facing crop losses due to a severe rainfall deficit.
In a letter to the chief minister on Wednesday, Pawar noted that inadequate rainfall in 31 of the state’s 36 districts has destroyed standing crops like soybean, cotton, and pulses, while drastically reducing sowing areas and creating an acute shortage of drinking water and fodder. Pawar said 31 of the state’s 36 districts had received significantly less rainfall than their average. Between June 1 and September 15, the state received 648 mm rainfall, which he claimed was 19 per cent below the average.
He noted that most parts of Maharashtra were facing a serious situation due to deficient rainfall and farmers were under severe stress. For areas facing drought-like conditions, Pawar sought special works under the employment guarantee scheme covering agriculture and water conservation, besides tanker arrangements to protect orchards. He also demanded state and district-level control rooms to monitor rainfall, crop and livestock conditions, water scarcity, and fodder availability daily.
He cited data from the World Meteorological Organisation to claim that the impact of the El Niño phenomenon could become more severe, and its effects could be seen from 2027.
