Maharashtra's crop is the focus of everyone's attention

18-Sep-2025 01:24 PM

Nanded. Extremely heavy southwest monsoon rains have wreaked havoc in Maharashtra, one of the top producers of crops like maize, soybean, pigeon pea, and cotton during the Kharif season, raising concerns for both farmers and the government.

Government data shows that approximately 17.86 lakh hectares (42.84 lakh acres) of Kharif crops have been damaged due to excess rainfall, waterlogging, and localized flooding.

This year, the total Kharif crop production in Maharashtra reached only 145.80 lakh hectares, which is 1.93 lakh hectares less than last year's sown area of ​​147.73 lakh hectares.

Due to the decline in acreage and crop damage caused by natural disasters, Kharif production in Maharashtra is expected to be affected this year.

Maharashtra is the second largest producer of pigeon pea (tuvar), soybean, and cotton in the country, while the area under maize has increased the most this year.

Kharif crop production was generally expected to be normal in the state, but heavy rains in July and August disrupted the situation. Even during the current month, heavy rainfall was recorded in areas of the state where fields already had excess moisture.

The districts of Maharashtra where Kharif crops have suffered the most damage due to various natural disasters include Nanded, Washim, Yavatmal, Dharashiv, Hingoli, Parbhani, Amravati, Wardha, Jalgaon, Sangli, Ratnagiri, Nashik, Satara, Dhule, Jalna, Beed, Chandrapur, Kolhapur, Latur, Raigad, Sindhudurg,

Nagpur, and Pune. Pulses, oilseeds, cotton, and maize crops have been significantly damaged in these districts, raising the possibility of a decline in production. This may improve the prices of various Kharif crops in the coming time.