In drought-hit state, 32% dip in

sowing for summer crop

PRIYANKA.KAKODKAR@TIMESGROUP.COM

Mumbai:

The drought has scorched farm sector hopes from summer crop, with
sowing in the state recording a decline of 32% compared to last year.
Summer crop covers an average of 1.6 lakh hectares in the state. Only 52%
of this area was sown this year.

The acute water shortage resulted in many farmers foregoing sowing for the
summer crop unless they had access to irrigation water.

The summer crop forms the smallest chunk in the state, the biggest being
monsoon, or kharif, crop. It is harvested in April-May.

Marathwada, which faces the most acute water shortage in the state, has
had only 10% sowing of the summer crop in the division. Western
Maharashtra reported just 26% sowing.

The area under oilseeds showed the highest decline of 58% compared to
last year. The sown area under groundnuts declined by 59%, while the area
under sunflower dropped by 45%.

The sown area under cereals fell by only 12%, while that under pulses
declined 32%. The biggest hit was taken by the area under maize, which
declined by 60%.

28k Maha villages in worst drought ever

Water stock in dams across the state went from 16.3% to 13% and the
number of tankers went up from 5,493 to 6,209, in 15 days this month.
Marathwada has 2.86% water stock, and over 28,000 of the state’s villages
are in their worst drought, an official has said. P 5

Crop loan budget up as CM cracks whip

The state level bankers’ committee (SLBC) has declared a crop loan outlay
of Rs 59,766 crore for 2019-20—slightly higher than last year’s Rs 58,324
crore. The move comes after CM Fadnavis made clear his dissatisfaction,
calling an SLBC meeting a ‘farce’. P 5

‘Farmers who harvested crop also hit’

The state has just 14% water in its dams, with arid Marathwada recording
just 2.86%. As many as 28 dams are at dead storage level. It had recorded a
monsoon deficit of 77%. The drought is expected to hit crop production
with two-thirds of the state farmers and 54% of its kharif crop already
affected.

Farmer leaders say that even those peasants who were able to grow and
harvest the summer crop could not find any takers.

“Those with irrigation have been able to grow a few crops but are now
finding that there is no support price offered by the government,” farmer
leader Vijay Jawandhia from Vidarbha said. “Those with no irrigation
facilities have not been able to grow anything.”
Water stock in state dams down to
13% of capacity
Marathwada Storage Dips To Mere 2.9%
PRAFULLA.MARPAKWAR@TIMESGROUP.COM
Mumbai:
Water stock in dams dipped to 13.1% from 16.3% in the state from May 13
to 28, while tanker numbers rose from 5,493 to 6,209.
On May 28 last year, 1,622 tankers were deployed to supply water to
villages.
With water stock slipping to just 2.9% in the 15-day period from May 13,
Marathwada is the worst-affected region in the state.
“Over 28,000 villages in the state are reeling under the worst-ever
drought,” an official said. “There is acute shortage of drinking water. We are
making all-out efforts to deploy tankers, but we not able to fill up the tankers
too. In the event monsoon is delayed, it will be bad situation.”
The official said the 6,209 tankers — mostly belonging to private
contractors — were deployed to meet drinking water needs of 4,920 villages
and 10,506 hamlets.
Last week, the villages and hamlets supplied water by tankers numbered
4,331 and 9,470, respectively.
As for water stock in dams, it was found that it stood at 13.1% on May 27
and 16.3% on May 13. On the same days last year, the stock was 23.1% and
27.9%.
“In more than 45 dams across the state, the storage level has reached zero
per cent and we may have to lift water from dead stock,” the official said.
On the demand for tankers, the official said the efficacy of chief minister
Devendra Fadnavis’s dream project Jalyukta Shivar was now being
doubted.
 After Fadnavis took over the reins of the state five years ago, he had
undertaken an ambitious plan to deepen small dams, lakes and canals to
enhance water levels so that adequate water was available for drinking.
“It appears that owing to poor rains for last two years, the Jalyukta Shivar
scheme did not materialise. As a result overall the water level has decreased
to a great extent,” the official said.
On the issue of cattle camps, too, the official said there was a steady
increase in the number of cattle. So far the department has set up 1,501
camps and a total of 10.5 lakh cattle were kept there, while last week the
number of cattle was 9.39 lakh in 1,417 camps. The department released Rs
111 crore for Aurangabad, Rs 4 crore for Pune and Rs 47 crore for Nashik.
“Funds will not be a problem for tackling drought as Rs 4,562 crore has
been released by the Centre, while equal amount has been paid by the state
government,” the government official said.