Difficulty in sowing Kharif crops due to heavy rain shortage in Marathwada division

07-Jul-2025 05:22 PM

Aurangabad. In Maharashtra's Marathwada division, a significant rain deficit—25 percent below normal—has created major challenges for farmers trying to sow Kharif crops.

They are now waiting for the monsoon to become active again. On the previous day, the entire division received only 3 mm of rainfall on average, which has raised concerns. From June 1 to July 6, the region recorded 127 mm of rain, far below the normal seasonal average.

Marathwada is a key Kharif crop-producing region where soybean, cotton, and pigeon pea (tur) are grown extensively, along with several other crops.

As per official records, the normal Kharif crop area is 21.40 lakh hectares in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar division and 28.30 lakh hectares in Latur division.

Due to the severe rainfall shortage, sowing operations have slowed significantly across many districts, and farmers are reluctant to proceed without adequate soil moisture.

Even in areas where sowing has already taken place, there is an urgent need for rainfall. Poor germination and wilting of young plants have been reported, and some farmers may be forced to re-sow their crops.

Agricultural experts warn that, under the current weather conditions, crop survival is increasingly at risk. Complaints of crop damage are already emerging.

The monsoon has been irregular and unpredictable across the region. If substantial rainfall does not arrive soon, Marathwada’s farmers could face serious setbacks.

According to the Meteorological Department, the chances of heavy rainfall in the near future are minimal. However, light to moderate rain is possible in some areas, and a yellow alert has been issued, indicating the likelihood of thunderstorms and scattered showers.