Maharashtra grapples with acute agrarian distress: Kharif crops have dried up, farmers may opt out of rabi
6 years, 4 months ago

Maharashtra grapples with acute agrarian distress: Kharif crops have dried up, farmers may opt out of rabi

Firstpost  

Observers believe the current situation looks bleaker even than the acute drought years between 2012-15. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he has asked the ministers “to visit all tehsils affected by water scarcity.” “Each minister may have to visit three or four tehsils and submit reports to the state government. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana even states, “in cases where majority of the insured farmers of a notified area, having intent to sow/plant and incurred expenditure for the purpose, are prevented from sowing/planting the insured crop due to adverse weather conditions, shall be eligible for indemnity claims up to a maximum of 25% of the sum-insured.” Khilche says the fact he cannot sow for the rabi season means he would not have any activity for the next four months. “The man in the village only gives two pots of water at a time,” he says. “And we have to look after our livestock as much as we can.” Sushila says the man only gives two pots of water per day for two reasons.

Water Farmers Maharashtra Drought State Village Padmini Osmanabad Khilche  drought  agrarian  water  kharif  state  distress  village  tankers  months  maharashtra  season  tehsils  farmers  crops  opt  dried  rabi  rs  grapples

History of this topic

Maharashtra farmer honoured by government dies by suicide citing water crisis
1 week, 6 days ago

Maharashtra farmer honoured by government dies by suicide citing water crisis

India Today  

A farmer honoured by the Maharashtra government for his work allegedly died by suicide over "inadequate water supply" in the state's Buldhana district, police said on Thursday. Notably, Nagre led a five-day fast last month highlighting the water supply crisis faced by the farmer community in his village. According to the suicide note recovered from Nagre, he cited the acute …

Farmers in distress due to water scarcity, non-release of state funds
2 months ago

Farmers in distress due to water scarcity, non-release of state funds

Deccan Chronicle  

Kakinada: Farmers under the Venkata Nagaram Lift Irrigation Scheme are in distress during the present Rabi season as the Irrigation department has not released water to the fields. This season, the officials could not release the water due to “lack of funds.” Officials say the state government did not release the funds for the LIS’ operational and maintenance costs. Executive …

Parched Maharashtra: 10,767 habitats depend upon tankers for water
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Parched Maharashtra: 10,767 habitats depend upon tankers for water

Hindustan Times  

MUMBAI: Although the weather bureau’s prediction of a good monsoon has offered some relief to the state government, it still has ample cause for worry. The water crisis in most of parts of Maharashtra has worsened, with 10,767 habitats, comprising villages and hamlets in 25 districts, dependent upon tankers for potable water. As the situation becomes grimmer, 56 villages and …

Farmers in India are weary of politicians’ lackluster response to their climate-driven water crisis
10 months ago

Farmers in India are weary of politicians’ lackluster response to their climate-driven water crisis

Associated Press  

BEED, India — On a stifling hot day this May, farm worker Shobha Londhe is reminded of the desperate conditions that led her husband to take his own life. Shobha Londhe, widow of farmer Tatya, who killed himself, pours water on her cow to cool the animal on a hot summer’s day outside her house, in Talegaon village, Beed district, …

Half of urban local bodies facing water shortage in Andhra Pradesh
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Half of urban local bodies facing water shortage in Andhra Pradesh

The Hindu  

More than half of the urban local bodies in Andhra Pradesh have been facing water scarcity during the ongoing summer, and at least seven municipalities are facing an acute shortage. Jawahar Reddy, Lathkar Shrikesh Balajirao, Commissioner & Director, Municipal Administration, said, “There will be no water problem for 60 Urban Local Bodies in the summer, while available reserves will last …

Farmer suicides in Maharashtra | Ploughing through the pain
1 year, 1 month ago

Farmer suicides in Maharashtra | Ploughing through the pain

The Hindu  

Trigger warning: the following article has references to suicide. Data, debt, death Veteran journalist and author P. Sainath, who runs the media website, People’s Archive of Rural India, says the number of farmer suicides could be significantly understated. Last year, a ‘classified’ report compiled by Sunil Kendrekar, the then Divisional Commissioner of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, found that about one lakh farmers …

Unseasonal rains continue to damage crops across Maha
1 year, 3 months ago

Unseasonal rains continue to damage crops across Maha

Hindustan Times  

PUNE: Many areas of Maharashtra, including Solapur, Hingoli and parts of Vidarbha continued to experience heavy rains on the third consecutive day on Tuesday. While six persons and 161 animals are reported to have died due to the sudden downpour, crops including cotton, onion, grape, banana, sweet lime, orange, rice, jowar, wheat and gram across Maharashtra have been damaged. Agriculture …

Maharashtra to face water scarcity, flooding and higher temperatures, says IPCC report
2 years ago

Maharashtra to face water scarcity, flooding and higher temperatures, says IPCC report

The Hindu  

Over the next few years, Maharashtra is expected to face the twin challenges of both water scarcity and flooding, apart from higher temperatures, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s latest report. The IPCC’s Synthesis Report, released earlier this week, outlines a comprehensive assessment of the current state of scientific knowledge related to climate change and predicts that temperatures …

Watch | Why are farmers in Maharashtra taking their own lives?
2 years ago

Watch | Why are farmers in Maharashtra taking their own lives?

The Hindu  

Watch | Why are farmers in Maharashtra taking their own lives? On an average, eight farmers end their lives every day in the State as they are unable to repay the loans taken from private money lenders and banks due to crop loss and falling crop prices. According to the data provided by the Maharashtra government, 1,023 farmers have ended …

Some damage to rabi crops due to unseasonal rains; yet to receive full report from States: Centre
2 years ago

Some damage to rabi crops due to unseasonal rains; yet to receive full report from States: Centre

The Hindu  

The Centre on Monday said there has been some damage to the rabi crops including wheat due to unseasonal rains and hailstorm brought about by western disturbance, but it is yet to receive a report from the States. Speaking to PTI, Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary said the State governments are utilising the funds under the State Disaster …

Maharashtra to suffer more if water not released to K’taka: Farmer leaders
2 years, 3 months ago

Maharashtra to suffer more if water not released to K’taka: Farmer leaders

Hindustan Times  

Hitting back at Maharashtra minister Shambhuraj Desai statement that the state would reconsider releasing water to Karnataka amid the border dispute, farmer leaders on Thursday said Maharashtra will “suffer more losses” if water is not released during the rainy season. HT Image Krishna river, the lifeline of north Karnataka, which overflows during rainy season dries up every summer for which …

India’s deepening water crisis at the heart of farm protests
3 years, 10 months ago

India’s deepening water crisis at the heart of farm protests

Associated Press  

India — Every year, Swarn Singh sows rice in his fields, knowing that the thirsty crop is draining northern India’s Punjab of its groundwater. But Singh says he has no choice, adding, “We’d rather plant crops that need less water.” The 32-year-old farmer and school teacher lives in Ransih Kalan village in the state’s Moga district, where green fields surrounding …

Maharashtra rain damage: Agriculture, farmers' prospects and the state economy hit
4 years, 5 months ago

Maharashtra rain damage: Agriculture, farmers' prospects and the state economy hit

India Today  

Since June this year, Maharashtra has received 1,129.3 mm of rainfall, significantly above the average of 1,036.3 mm it usually receives in this period. Standing crops of soya bean, onion, cotton, paddy, bajra and vegetables have been heavily damaged, and farmers also report significant erosion of topsoil due to the unexpected rain, posing additional difficulties for the rabi season. An …

Maharashtra: As rain ruins crops, ten farmers end life in Marathwada
5 years, 4 months ago

Maharashtra: As rain ruins crops, ten farmers end life in Marathwada

India TV News  

At least ten cases of farmer suicides were reported from Marathwada region of Maharashtra in the last four days as unseasonal rains damaged crops, officials said on Tuesday. In Beed district, two farmers committed suicide in the last three days, said a senior district official. In Latur district, three incidents of farmer suicides were reported, with crop loss caused by …

Recurrent water crisis forces Mawasis in MP to migrate to cities for livelihood as parched forests run dry of produce
5 years, 8 months ago

Recurrent water crisis forces Mawasis in MP to migrate to cities for livelihood as parched forests run dry of produce

Firstpost  

Recurrent drought in Satna district of Madhya Pradesh has turned the once all-providing summer months into a nightmare for Mawasi tribals, forcing the youth to migrate for livelihood while women walk at least 16 kilometres daily for water Editor’s Note: Even after 72 years of Independence, the Mawasi community — a Scheduled Tribe — that lives in the hills of …

Water crisis in India: Changing cropping patterns, recharging ground reserves imperative to avert disaster
5 years, 8 months ago

Water crisis in India: Changing cropping patterns, recharging ground reserves imperative to avert disaster

Firstpost  

Of 91 major water reservoirs in the country, 11 have zero percent storage. Further, almost two-thirds of the country’s reservoirs have below normal levels On Sunday, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned with his monthly radio broadcast, “Mann ki Baat,” he urged citizens to use water resources judiciously. NITI Aayog sounds warning bell The NITI Aayog ’s 2018 composite water …

An eyewitness account of Maharashtra reeling under drought never seen by generations
5 years, 9 months ago

An eyewitness account of Maharashtra reeling under drought never seen by generations

India TV News  

The state of Maharashtra is battling a drought that has never been seen in last half a century. People here told us that during the drought in the year 1972, there was a severe shortage of food but there at least was water to drink. We don't even get water if we are late" Girls and women are mostly the …

Amid polls, drought eats away at North Karnataka’s vitals
5 years, 10 months ago

Amid polls, drought eats away at North Karnataka’s vitals

Deccan Chronicle  

Polls come and go and politicos keep the big bright dream alive with their never ending promises but the droughts never cease in North Karnataka. Though the government has implemented a multi-village drinking water project to supply water to nearly 350 villages from Tungabhadra and Malaprabha rivers, many people in rural areas are struggling to get drinking water. Officials have …

Why Gadkari Feels that Pawar and Not Paswan is the ‘Weather Dept’
6 years ago

Why Gadkari Feels that Pawar and Not Paswan is the ‘Weather Dept’

The Quint  

When it comes to Maharashtra, the agrarian crisis, Maratha politics and the issue of Dalits pose a threat on a grassroot level for the BJP. In my constituency, in the field of irrigation, the Maharashtra government has implemented approximately 108 projects under the farmer scheme and 27 projects under the Prime Minister Irrigation Scheme. Then Maharashtra’s irrigation will increase by …

'Don't know how we'll manage': Facing drought, villagers in Maharashtra's Marathwada left scrounging for water
6 years, 4 months ago

'Don't know how we'll manage': Facing drought, villagers in Maharashtra's Marathwada left scrounging for water

Firstpost  

“I have to keep requesting farmers whose borewells have water to give me a few buckets,” said Shivaji Mamdage, a senior from Mamdapur Patoda village in Beed district, describing his daily struggle for water. “Grampanchayat manages to avail water once every 3 to 4 days by taking water from borewells from farmers willing to give us water,” said Savita Deshmukh, …

Maharashtra declares a ‘drought-like situation’ in 180 tehsils
6 years, 5 months ago

Maharashtra declares a ‘drought-like situation’ in 180 tehsils

Live Mint  

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government on Tuesday declared a ‘drought-like situation’ in 180 tehsils, more than half the 353 of these administrative units in the state, in an acknowledgement of looming agrarian distress. The report said 11,487 villages spread over 167 tehsils face a “probable scarcity situation” in 2018-19 and that scarcity could hit 2,941 villages in 114 tehsils as early …

20,000 Maharashtra villages may soon run out of water, staring at drought
6 years, 5 months ago

20,000 Maharashtra villages may soon run out of water, staring at drought

Hindustan Times  

Nearly half of Maharashtra’s villages are running out of water, perhaps even staring at drought, as they received lower rainfall this monsoon. Water is scarce in at least 20,000 of Maharashtra’s 40,559 villages across 201 tehsils as they received less than 75% of the average required rainfall. Water is scarce in at least 20,000 of the state’s 40,559 villages across …

This is how serious India’s drought has gotten
8 years, 10 months ago

This is how serious India’s drought has gotten

LA Times  

A child points to initials on a container on April 28 as she and other villagers line up to collect potable water at a makeshift camp in Mumbai. “Nobody wants to migrate out of their homes and sleep under the open sky in a city.” The persistent drought and searing temperatures in India have caused crop failures, water shortages and …

Maharashtra drought: Child who went to fetch water dies of heat stroke
8 years, 11 months ago

Maharashtra drought: Child who went to fetch water dies of heat stroke

Hindustan Times  

A 12-year-old girl died of heat stroke at Sablkhed village in Maharashtra’s drought-hit Beed district on Tuesday afternoon, after repeated trips to a hand pump to fetch water. According to the relief and rehabilitation department, nearly half of the 4,356 drinking water tankers sent to Maharashtra till mid-April were earmarked for Marathwada. The relief and rehabilitation department says nearly half …

Marathwada's drought: 'Toothless' laws lead to water exploitation
8 years, 11 months ago

Marathwada's drought: 'Toothless' laws lead to water exploitation

Firstpost  

Maharashtra has the maximum number of big dams of any state in India, the most expenditure on big dams since Independence with the least amount of cropped area under irrigation. The first piece of legislation governing water was the Maharashtra Irrigation Act 1976, followed by enabling Acts between 1996 and 1998 to create five Irrigation Development Corporations for the different …

Cereal output to fall 41%, pulses 11%, Maharashtra farm crisis deepens
8 years, 11 months ago

Cereal output to fall 41%, pulses 11%, Maharashtra farm crisis deepens

India TV News  

The production of cereals is projected to fall 41 percent and pulses 11 percent, as agricultural growth in Maharashtra is set to decline 2.7 percentfor the year 2015-16, after deficient rainfall in 278 of 355 talukas, according to the Economic Survey of Maharashtra 2015-16. In 2015, rainfall in Maharashtra was 60 percent of the average, and so the state’s farmed …

Maharashtra drought: Cereal output to fall 41%, pulses 11% as state's farm crisis deepens
8 years, 11 months ago

Maharashtra drought: Cereal output to fall 41%, pulses 11% as state's farm crisis deepens

Firstpost  

The lack of rain has created crises in other states as well: 246 of India’s 688 districts across 10 states are now officially drought-hit, according to this answer provided on 10 March to the Lok Sabha By Prachi Salve The production of cereals is projected to fall 41 percent, and pulses 11 percent, as agricultural growth in Maharashtra is set …

Impending rains pose a risk to rabi harvest
9 years ago

Impending rains pose a risk to rabi harvest

Live Mint  

New Delhi: After two back-to-back deficient monsoons and a warm and dry winter, India Meteorological Department has warned of heavy unseasonal rain and hailstorm in 14 Indian states, which could pose as a threat to the Rabi harvest. Over the past week, winter crops of wheat, chickpea and mustard have suffered some damage in pockets of states like Maharashtra, Madhya …

Irrigation plan soon for all districts in Maharashtra
9 years ago

Irrigation plan soon for all districts in Maharashtra

Hindustan Times  

In the wake of a drought situation that has led to an agrarian crisis in Maharashtra, the state government has started preparing a district irrigation plan for all districts. Poor rainfall — 59.4% of the annual average — has resulted in crop loss on 53.10 lakh hectares comprising 15,747 villages from 21 districts, which account for nearly 35% of the …

Maharashtra faces worst drought in 100 years as state’s water plan falters
9 years, 2 months ago

Maharashtra faces worst drought in 100 years as state’s water plan falters

Firstpost  

IndiaSpend‘s investigation of the programme reveals that the government is spreading itself thin in its efforts to reach more farmers as the drought’s efforts worsen. “The majority of the farmers in my village cannot.” IndiaSpend‘s investigation of the programme reveals that the government is spreading itself thin in its efforts to reach more farmers as the drought’s efforts worsen. Lokhande’s …

Tackling water crisis, the Maharashtra way
9 years, 8 months ago

Tackling water crisis, the Maharashtra way

The Hindu  

After witnessing an alleged scam of thousands of crores in building large, medium and small irrigation projects in Maharashtra, the State is now focusing on building decentralised, local and farmer-oriented water bodies. “This is the first-of-its-kind people’s movement since Independence,” said Mr. Fadnavis. The main aspects of it are to store water, recharge groundwater levels and increase soil moisture,” said …

Only three farmers’ suicides from crop failure: Maharashtra
9 years, 11 months ago

Only three farmers’ suicides from crop failure: Maharashtra

The Hindu  

If the Maharashtra government is to be believed, only three farmers have committed suicide in the State because of crop failure due to unseasonal rain and hailstorms since January. The government, however, acknowledges that 598 more farmers have taken their own lives during the period, but is unaware of the reasons for the deaths as the victims had not left …

Maharashtra likely to bring farmer suicide under insurance umbrella | IndiaTV News
9 years, 11 months ago

Maharashtra likely to bring farmer suicide under insurance umbrella | IndiaTV News

India TV News  

Mumbai: In the wake of ongoing drought condition in around 24,000 villages of Maharashtra, the state government has plans to bring the farmers' suicide under insurance cover, according to the Agriculture Minister Eknath Khadse. As per the latest statistics from the state, Marathwada region has shown the highest number of farmer suicides with around 80 to 90 cases reported from …

Sudden rainfall leaves Maharashtra farmers worried
10 years ago

Sudden rainfall leaves Maharashtra farmers worried

The Hindu  

Sudden rainfall over the weekend may have caught Mumbaikars off guard, but for farmers across Maharashtra already stressed with farm suicides and losses it has brought new worries of damage to crops. Kishore Tiwari, president of the farmer advocacy group Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti called for the intervention of the Centre as he "has no faith in the unprofessional attitude" …

Drought affects 90 lakh farmers in Maharashtra
10 years, 1 month ago

Drought affects 90 lakh farmers in Maharashtra

India TV News  

New Delhi: According to official data, nearly 90 lakh farmers in Maharasthra have been adversely affected by the drought. Two weeks ago, the state government officially declared that 60% of its villages were facing a "drought-like condition". Farmers in the state are facing severe agrarian distress," said state relief and rehabilitation secretary K H Govinda Raj. Vidarbha-based farmer activist Vijay …

Poor rain, callous authorities drive Marathwada farmers to suicide
10 years, 4 months ago

Poor rain, callous authorities drive Marathwada farmers to suicide

Hindustan Times  

With low production and destruction of crops in the ongoing rabi season, Marathwada has recorded around 350 suicides in the past three months, a number which officials fear is likely to go up in the coming months. Aurangabad and Latur divisions in the region recorded 30% and 16% sowing of rabi crops respectively, much lower than last year’s average. Nishikant …

Maharashtra expects farmer suicide cases to drop by 70 percent in Financial Year 2014
11 years, 5 months ago

Maharashtra expects farmer suicide cases to drop by 70 percent in Financial Year 2014

India TV News  

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government today said it is taking steps to insulate farmers from adverse market and weather conditions by helping them to have a regular income, and expects suicide cases in Vidarbha region to come down by 70 per cent this financial year from 2007-08, when this tragic phenomenon peaked. “The major problem in the affected districts are that …

Drought looms large over more States
12 years, 8 months ago

Drought looms large over more States

The Hindu  

Drought conditions loom over south Karnataka and central Maharashtra adding to concern at the severely deficient southwest monsoon in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. These States have been advised to go for early rabi plantation to make up for the shortfall in kharif sowing. Alarmed at the situation, the Centre on Saturday convened a meeting of the affected States, including …

Threat of water crisis in Maharashtra: Governor
12 years, 10 months ago

Threat of water crisis in Maharashtra: Governor

Firstpost  

The governor warned of a severe water crisis if the state government failed to complete the pending and ongoing irrigation projects on schedule. Mumbai: Sounding an alarm bell, Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan on Friday warned of a severe water crisis if the state government failed to complete the pending and ongoing irrigation projects on schedule. Expressing serious concern over the …

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