Teams begin crop-loss panchnamas in Daund's Rajegaon and nearby villages after drought declared

After the government declared drought-like conditions in Rajegaon, Malthan, Watluj, Naigaon, Khanota and surrounding areas of Daund taluka, the administration has moved quickly. A joint team of the revenue, agriculture and rural development departments is visiting farmers' fields to carry out an accurate, ground-level panchnama of crop losses. The speed of the administration has brought considerable relief to farmers hit by the drought.

The team formed for the panchnama is headed by revenue officer Nikita Gaikwad. Assistant agriculture officer Ravi Tapkir, rural development revenue officer Navnath Chavan and revenue officer Shashikant Sonawane are also on the team. Rather than prepare the panchnama on paper from an office, the team walked into the mud and soil of the fields and examined the present condition of each crop. It also recorded the fall in water levels in wells and borewells, the severe water shortage and details of crops that have dried up.

Crops scorched by drought

Because of highly erratic rain and drought-like conditions this season, crops that were ready to be harvested have been destroyed in the Rajegaon area. Rain-fed farming as well as horticultural crops have been badly hit. Accurate panchnamas were therefore essential for financial assistance from the government. Officials present on the spot expressed confidence that no affected farmer would be denied government aid and that the panchnamas were being completed with full transparency.

Farmers praise officials, await compensation

Villagers and farmers in Rajegaon and neighbouring villages are praising the administration for its transparent and swift work. Farmers in the area are now demanding that this objective report on the losses be sent to senior levels as soon as possible and that the government deposit financial compensation in their accounts immediately.