Seven of Wardha's eight talukas placed in drought Trigger-1, crop damage surveys under way

Rain disappeared midway through this year's kharif season, creating drought-like conditions in Wardha district. Long dry spells and low rainfall have directly hit standing crops. The government has placed the remaining seven talukas of the district, all except Karanja, in drought Trigger-1.

In view of the situation, the government has directed the district administration to carry out panchnamas of the losses. Officials of the revenue, agriculture and rural development departments are jointly conducting the panchnamas on a war footing. So far, panchnamas of crops over 8,883 hectares in the district have been completed.

The rain had given farmers the slip at the start. When some rain came, farmers stepped up sowing. But the rain then vanished again and the condition of the kharif crops worsened.

As per the government's guidelines, the agriculture department studied several parameters, including rainfall up to September 14, dry spells, crop condition and the likely fall in production. Following this study, seven talukas of Wardha district were placed in drought Trigger-1.

The agriculture department had estimated that kharif sowing this year would cover 4,06,555 hectares in the district. In fact, kharif crops have been sown over more than that, about 4,19,575 hectares.

Soybean, cotton and tur are the main crops. Soybean covers 1,19,733 hectares, cotton 2,32,353 hectares and tur 60,413 hectares.

The administration is collecting details of the losses caused by low rain and dry spells. The revenue, agriculture and rural development departments will complete joint panchnamas and prepare their reports. The district administration will submit the full loss report to the government by October 10.

District Superintendent Agriculture Officer Arvind Uprikar said, "As per the government's guidelines, joint panchnamas of crop losses are being carried out on a war footing. The details of losses in the district will be collected and sent to the government by October 10."