Akola farmers hit as rain fails: kharif crops damaged, rabi sowing now at risk

Rain has failed in Akola district this year, causing heavy damage to kharif crops and now threatening the rabi season. The district was expected to receive an average of 693 mm of rain, but only 422.8 mm has actually been recorded.

A long break in the rains stunted soybean, cotton and other kharif crops. Farmers' finances have been upended, and they are worried about how to arrange water and capital for rabi sowing.

Crops on 4,26,995 hectares in the district have been hit by the shortfall in rain. In many fields the chance of getting the expected yield has shrunk. Falling soil moisture is also creating difficulties for rabi sowing. With hopes of income from the kharif crop gone, farmers face the challenge of raising capital for the next season.

Because of the drought-like conditions, the state government has announced an advance relief of Rs 5,000 each for eligible farmers. Farmers had been looking to the government in the hope of receiving financial help before Diwali. But they say the aid is inadequate given production costs running into thousands of rupees and the heavy losses suffered.

The money spent on seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and tilling is also unlikely to be recovered. On top of that, fresh expenditure will be needed for rabi sowing. Farmers are therefore waiting to see how much compensation the affected will get.

Rain-fed farming has been hit hardest. Of the district's total 4,32,010 hectares, sowing had been done on 4,22,439 hectares. Rain-fed farmland suffered the most damage, with crops on 4,06,720 hectares affected. A total of 2,88,076 farmers in 1,037 villages have been recorded as affected. Farmers in 611 villages with irrigated land, 6,631 of them, have also suffered losses.

Having borne the kharif losses, farmers say they expect water and financial help for the rabi season. There is a fear that if compensation for the losses caused by the lack of rain, and the aid needed for the next season, do not arrive in time, the financial crisis facing farmers will deepen.