Unseasonal rainfall and thunderstorms have caused 38,000 hectares of crop damage in the agricultural regions of western Vidarbha and Marathwada in Maharashtra.
The worst-affected places are Washim, Amravati, Jalna, Sambhaji Nagar, and Beed. In these regions of the state, crops such as maize, onions, fruits, and vegetables are grown.
Since April 8, sections of eastern Vidarbha, such as Nagpur and Wardha, as well as the western regions of Vidarbha have seen intense rainfall and hailstorms. In Marathwada, the unexpected rain has affected all eight districts. For the next two days, the area is under orange and yellow alerts from the meteorological agency.
Political analysts believe that while farmers anticipate prompt help from the state government, the natural disaster during the approaching Lok Sabha election has presented an unanticipated challenge for the ruling BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP alliance. An assessment of the issue is currently being conducted by Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Thirteen constituencies, 13 of which are in the Vidarbha area, will vote in the first two phases of the upcoming Lok Sabha election. The majority of voters in these constituencies are engaged mostly in agriculture. Therefore, the discontent among farmers may turn into a negative issue for the ruling Mahayuti government, consisting of the NCP, BJP, and Shiv Sena. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde intervened to provide farmers with remedial measures.
Speaking with the district collectors, CM Eknath Shinde assessed the circumstances and asked the administration to work quickly to provide the farmers with the assistance they need at this time. CM Eknath Shinde also asked Iqbal Singh Chahal, the chief minister's office's additional chief secretary, to seek the Indian Election Commission to exempt relief measures from the code of conduct.
In order to evaluate the crop losses, Munde visited a number of Marathwada villages and spoke with local farmers. Vegetable and fruit crops have been severely impacted in Marathwada. He said he ordered the administration to finish the survey in order to submit the crop loss report. Farmers who have insured their crops had to submit crop loss reports to the relevant insurance providers, he added.
In a quote to HT Shetkari Sanghatana's farmers' leader, Vijay Jawandhiya, said that this unexpected rain has severely harmed farmers' livelihoods and crops. Farmers in some locations also suffered in February and March as a result of the unexpected rain, causing damage to their crops. Unexpected rains over the past few days caused damage to crops, including wheat, fruits, and vegetables. Until today, farmers have not gotten assistance for the losses they sustained in February and March. There was no code of behaviour in place at the time, and the government was ineffective in its efforts to support the farmers. Therefore, it is currently unclear if the administration will assist farmers right away, Jawandhiya said.
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