Excess Rain Damages Kharif Crops on 8 Lakh Hectares in Maharashtra
28-Aug-2025 09:31 PM
Pune. After continuous heavy rains for several days, dense clouds are again hovering over the sky of Maharashtra, which has further increased the danger for Kharif crops. According to initial estimates, Kharif crops have already been damaged in about 8 lakh hectares of area in the state.
According to official sources, Kharif crops have been damaged in 654 revenue circles of 187 talukas of Marathwada, Vidarbha, West Maharashtra and North Maharashtra due to excessive rain and waterlogging in the fields during the current month (August).
According to the Agriculture Minister of Maharashtra, Kharif crops have been destroyed in the maximum area of 285 lakh hectares in Nanded district of the state and 1.64 lakh hectares in Washim district.
Apart from this, crops have been damaged in 92 thousand hectares in Yavatmal district and 89 thousand hectares in Buldhana district.
The period of excessive rain started at a time when Kharif crops were passing through a crucial phase. This time cotton was cultivated in about 39 lakh hectares in the state and when the process of flowering started in it, heavy rains started.
Similarly, the production area of soybean was about 50 lakh hectares and many of its fields were also flooded. There are reports of damage to pigeon pea and maize crops in Maharashtra due to waterlogging.
Due to cloudy sky and increased moisture content in the atmosphere, there is a possibility of increased infestation of diseases and insects on Kharif crops in Maharashtra, which may increase the scope of damage.
If waterlogging continues due to rain in the lower areas, then the crops may be completely ruined, the concern of the farmers is continuously increasing. Pomegranate crop has also been damaged there.
There are about 30 thousand hectares of pomegranate orchards in the state, out of which the crop has been damaged in 7500 hectares.
On the other hand, there are reports of urad crop being affected in North Maharashtra. The state government has assured to give proper compensation to the affected farmers. A survey of the damage to the crop is being conducted.