14.44 lakh hectares of crops damaged: How August rains in Maharashtra affected 29 districts

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Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dattatraya Bharne on Friday said heavy rainfall across Maharashtra in August has caused widespread destruction to standing crops, affecting farmers in 29 districts. Crops on more than 14.44 lakh hectares of farmland have been damaged due to the downpour, The Indian Express reported.

Bharne explained that 191 tehsils across 29 districts reported heavy losses. “Kharif crops spread over more than 654 revenue circles have been severely damaged. Out of the total affected area, over 10,000 hectares of farmland in 12 districts has suffered significant damage,” he said.

Among the worst-hit districts, Nanded alone reported losses across 6.20 lakh hectares, while Washim and Yavatmal also recorded over 1.6 lakh hectares each under damage. Other districts such as Dharashiv (1.50 lakh hectares), Buldhana (89,782 hectares), Akola (43,828 hectares), Solapur (47,266 hectares) and Hingoli (40,000 hectares) also witnessed major crop destruction.

The main crops to suffer damage include soybean, maize, cotton, urad, tur and moong. In several areas, vegetable fields, fruit orchards, sugarcane, onion, jowar, millet, and turmeric crops were also affected.

The list of affected districts stretches across the state, covering Nanded, Washim, Yavatmal, Buldhana, Akola, Solapur, Hingoli, Dharashiv, Parbhani, Amravati, Jalgaon, Wardha, Sangli, Ahilyanagar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Beed, Latur, Dhule, Ratnagiri, Chandrapur, Satara, Nashik, Kolhapur, Sindhudurg, Gadchiroli, Raigad and Nagpur.

Bharne added that the government has already begun Panchnama (damage assessment surveys) in the affected regions. “Following the instructions of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, surveys are in their final stage. Appropriate financial help will be provided immediately. No farmer will be left without support, the government firmly stands with them,” the minister assured.