Even as Maharashtra's farmers are yet to come to terms with their losses during the kharif season, bad news is trickling in at the end of the recently concluded rabi season.
Due to the severe drought situation in the state, there has been a reduction in both, the area under cultivation during the rabi season and agricultural productivity.
A total of 62.44 lakh hectares were available for cultivation this year. However, data made available by the agriculture department shows only 77.49% of the total land was cultivated during the rabi season. In the kharif cropping season, 93% of the available land was cultivated.
The main rabi crops are jowar, wheat, maize, pulses and cotton.
While the average target production of pulses for the rabi crop is 1.7 million tonnes, it is 7 million bales for cotton. The target is 22.38 million tonnes for foodgrains.
But overall production of all crops is likely to come down by 17%, while per hectare productivity is estimated to reduce by 25%. The target production figures are based on the average production of the crops. The figures are being closely monitored by various departments and based on productivity and per hectare production in the rabi season, more farmers may be added to the list of the drought-affected.
Almost 70% of the state is currently drought-affected, which includes over 28,000 villages and 90 lakh of the 1.36 crore farmers in the state. Farmers are not only grappling with the agricultural crisis but also reeling under mounting debt. In 2015 alone 3,328 farmers committed suicide, an all-time high in 15 years.
Overall production during the kharif season, for instance, was 36% lower than the target.
There was a 27% reduction in the area under cultivation of corn and its target productivity dipped by 39%, while area under wheat cultivation fell by 40% and its productivity dipped by 26%. The area under soyabean cultivation dipped by 35% and productivity went down by 55%. Due to the deficit rainfall in the last two years, agriculture in the state is showing a negative growth rate.
"Lack of rainfall and poor planning of irrigation projects has affected the agriculture sector in the state. The dip in the ground water table too has taken its toll. The recovery of this sector may need more than one full monsoon," said an official.
Due to the severe drought situation in the state, there has been a reduction in both, the area under cultivation during the rabi season and agricultural productivity.
A total of 62.44 lakh hectares were available for cultivation this year. However, data made available by the agriculture department shows only 77.49% of the total land was cultivated during the rabi season. In the kharif cropping season, 93% of the available land was cultivated.
The main rabi crops are jowar, wheat, maize, pulses and cotton.
While the average target production of pulses for the rabi crop is 1.7 million tonnes, it is 7 million bales for cotton. The target is 22.38 million tonnes for foodgrains.
But overall production of all crops is likely to come down by 17%, while per hectare productivity is estimated to reduce by 25%. The target production figures are based on the average production of the crops. The figures are being closely monitored by various departments and based on productivity and per hectare production in the rabi season, more farmers may be added to the list of the drought-affected.
Almost 70% of the state is currently drought-affected, which includes over 28,000 villages and 90 lakh of the 1.36 crore farmers in the state. Farmers are not only grappling with the agricultural crisis but also reeling under mounting debt. In 2015 alone 3,328 farmers committed suicide, an all-time high in 15 years.
Overall production during the kharif season, for instance, was 36% lower than the target.
There was a 27% reduction in the area under cultivation of corn and its target productivity dipped by 39%, while area under wheat cultivation fell by 40% and its productivity dipped by 26%. The area under soyabean cultivation dipped by 35% and productivity went down by 55%. Due to the deficit rainfall in the last two years, agriculture in the state is showing a negative growth rate.
"Lack of rainfall and poor planning of irrigation projects has affected the agriculture sector in the state. The dip in the ground water table too has taken its toll. The recovery of this sector may need more than one full monsoon," said an official.