Deficient rain hits kharif crops in Maharashtra, Chopda farmers report lower maize yield
Farmers in Chopda taluka of Jalgaon district say weak rain has cut maize output and market arrivals of maize and soyabean compared with last year.
Deficient rain in Maharashtra this year has hit farmers' crops hard and reduced their yields. Kharif crops of farmers in Chopda taluka of Jalgaon district have been particularly affected. Maize output there has fallen sharply, and the filling of maize grain has also suffered.
Farmers are bringing their maize to sell at the agricultural produce market committee. Maize and soyabean arrive daily at the Chopda market committee in Jalgaon. Soyabean arrivals are currently around 250 quintals, while maize arrivals are reaching around 2,000 quintals. Because of the lack of rain, arrivals of both maize and soyabean appear lower than last year.
The fall in arrivals is also showing in prices. Maize is fetching between Rs 1,700 and Rs 2,000 at the market committee. Farmers at the market committee said soyabean is fetching prices of up to Rs 5,800 per quintal. According to these farmers, maize, soyabean and other produce have been affected this year compared with last year.
The problem is not confined to maize and soyabean. Deficient rain in the state has hit farmers' crops hard and reduced their production. With kharif crops in Chopda taluka affected, maize arrivals are lower than last year, and yields of maize are also affected. The drop in maize arrivals is now being felt in the output of jowar, bajra and moong as well.
