CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: Marathwada region, comprising eight districts, has received an average of only 14mm rainfall in June so far, leading to 85% monsoon deficiency.
The shortfall in the expected quota (94 mm) of rainfall has been impacting the kharif season crops with 0% sowing in Marathwada till June 20.
Among eight districts in Marathwada, Osmanabad recorded only 5mm rainfall in June and witnessed the highest 94% rainfall deficiency. Jalna (8 mm) has been experiencing 91% deficiency, followed by Nanded with 11mm rainfall (90% deficiency), Hingoli 15mm rainfall (88% deficiency), Beed 12mm rainfall (86% deficiency), Latur 16mm rainfall (83% deficiency), Parbhani 19mm rainfall (82% deficiency) and Aurangabad 21mm rainfall (76% deficiency).
Latur agricultural division in Marathwada has 29.35 lakh hectares under kharif cultivation, whereas Aurangabad division has 21.87 lakh hectares.
Farmers’ rights activist Jayaji Suryawanshi said that delayed sowing for kharif may adversely impact the growth cycle of crops.
“Two cash crops, namely cotton and sugar cane, are among the preferred kharif crops in Marathwada. Latur division has an oilseed cultivation belt. The delayed arrival of monsoon is most likely to hit the agricultural production in the region,” he said.
Shriniwas Aundhkar, director, city-based MGM APJ Abdul Kalam Astrospace Science Centre and Club, said that the stalled progress of monsoon may pick up pace within the next two to three days. “Cyclone Biparjoy, which made landfall near the coastal areas of Gujrat, had affected the progress of the monsoon. The weather systems, however, look favourable for the progress of the monsoon and rainfall activity in the region,” he said.
As per the forecast issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Aurangabad, Jalna, Parbhani, Beed and Hingoli districts of Marathwada are likely to witness light rain or thundershowers, whereas Nanded, Latur and Osmanabad may experience light to moderate rain on Thursday.
The shortfall in the expected quota (94 mm) of rainfall has been impacting the kharif season crops with 0% sowing in Marathwada till June 20.
Among eight districts in Marathwada, Osmanabad recorded only 5mm rainfall in June and witnessed the highest 94% rainfall deficiency. Jalna (8 mm) has been experiencing 91% deficiency, followed by Nanded with 11mm rainfall (90% deficiency), Hingoli 15mm rainfall (88% deficiency), Beed 12mm rainfall (86% deficiency), Latur 16mm rainfall (83% deficiency), Parbhani 19mm rainfall (82% deficiency) and Aurangabad 21mm rainfall (76% deficiency).
Latur agricultural division in Marathwada has 29.35 lakh hectares under kharif cultivation, whereas Aurangabad division has 21.87 lakh hectares.
Farmers’ rights activist Jayaji Suryawanshi said that delayed sowing for kharif may adversely impact the growth cycle of crops.
“Two cash crops, namely cotton and sugar cane, are among the preferred kharif crops in Marathwada. Latur division has an oilseed cultivation belt. The delayed arrival of monsoon is most likely to hit the agricultural production in the region,” he said.
Shriniwas Aundhkar, director, city-based MGM APJ Abdul Kalam Astrospace Science Centre and Club, said that the stalled progress of monsoon may pick up pace within the next two to three days. “Cyclone Biparjoy, which made landfall near the coastal areas of Gujrat, had affected the progress of the monsoon. The weather systems, however, look favourable for the progress of the monsoon and rainfall activity in the region,” he said.
As per the forecast issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Aurangabad, Jalna, Parbhani, Beed and Hingoli districts of Marathwada are likely to witness light rain or thundershowers, whereas Nanded, Latur and Osmanabad may experience light to moderate rain on Thursday.
