Drought in Ahilyanagar's Chapadgaon worse than 1972, villagers may migrate

Drought conditions in Chapadgaon village of Shevgaon taluka in Ahilyanagar district have turned so severe this year that farmers are talking of leaving the village. Rain has been absent for a long time and the heat has added to the distress. This has created a crisis on every front, from drinking water to fodder for animals, leaving farmers and villagers in despair. Local farmers say that if conditions continue like this, they may have to leave the village along with their animals in search of water and fodder.

All the water sources in the village have dried up due to lack of rain. Several wells have gone completely empty, creating a severe drinking water shortage. According to local residents, women and villagers have to run from place to place just to fill a single pot of water. With no water available for farming, standing crops could not be saved either.

Farmers have compared the current situation to the severe drought of 1972. They say that although there was a serious grain shortage in 1972, some wells still had drinking water left at that time. This time, however, the wells have dried up to the bottom, making the water problem far more severe than before, according to villagers.

The prolonged lack of adequate rainfall has caused heavy damage to kharif season crops. The money farmers spent on ploughing, sowing, seeds, fertiliser and other costs has gone to waste, deepening the economic crisis. With no harvest in hand, farmers are now faced with the question of where to find money for the next season.

After their crops, farmers now face the major challenge of saving their livestock. Water is unavailable, and on top of that, getting green and dry fodder has also become difficult. Farmers are worried about how to keep their animals alive under these conditions.

Farmers say that if the situation does not improve soon and arrangements for water and fodder are not made, they will have no option but to migrate with their animals to places where water and fodder are available. The situation in Chapadgaon highlights the severity of the drought, with demands being raised for drinking water, fodder for animals, and help for the affected farmers.