Mumbai: A looming agricultural catastrophe is unfolding across Maharashtra’s Marathwada region. Prolonged dry spells have devastated the kharif sowing, leaving farmers in Latur, Beed and Dharashiv to scramble for any salvageable yield while shrinking water supplies fuel growing despair.
Parched Terrain, Dying Crops
From afar, isolated green patches still dot the landscape, but a closer inspection reveals a bleaker reality. Soybean stalks have turned an unhealthy yellow, pigeon‑pea vines are curling and desiccating, cotton bolls are few, and sugarcane—normally towering at 20‑25 feet—has stalled at a stunted 10‑12 feet before beginning to wilt.
Latur, Beed, Parbhani and Dharashiv have borne the brunt of the shortfall. From June through September the region recorded merely 424.5 mm of rain, far below the normal 679.5 mm. The deficit has rippled beyond fields, choking fodder supplies, rural employment, household incomes and the cash flow essential for the next planting season.
Escalating Expenses, Shrinking Returns
Farmers say every rupee spent on cultivation is now turning into a loss. In Hingangaon, Tukaram Ambaji invested roughly ₹30,000‑₹35,000 per acre on his 40‑acre farm, yet the ruined harvest is unlikely to recoup even that outlay.
The financial blow stretches beyond the current crop. Fields now demand extra labour and costs to clear the wilted plants before the next season can commence.
Ram Bellade of Savargaon Rokda cultivated soybean, pigeon‑pea and jowar over eight acres, spending close to ₹1.5 lakh. With the produce decimated, he foresees an additional ₹5,000 per acre needed to clean the land, and the leftovers may serve only as cattle fodder.
Sugarcane growers face a parallel dilemma. In the village of Hagdal, Balaji Munde reports that his cane, which normally shoots up to 20‑25 feet, has stalled at just 10‑12 feet and is now drying out.
Water Reservoirs Under Strain
The drought has also drained local water bodies. Ponds in Latur and Beed are nearly barren, and the Majra River—once a lifeline for Latur—has receded sharply.
The Majra Dam, straddling the Latur‑Dharashiv‑Beed border, sits at an alarmingly low level. Across Latur district, the average storage of 158 reservoirs has slipped to roughly 12.5 % of capacity.
Adding to the crisis, many traditional water sources remain under‑utilised or suffer from leakage and poor management, heightening concerns over sustainable water governance.
New Set of Challenges for Farmers
For growers around Latur, the drought has unfolded in three phases: first, the difficulty of sowing; second, the battle to keep seedlings alive; and now, the urgent need to clear ruined crops and secure funds for the next planting cycle.
Residents often invoke the historic 1972 drought when describing today’s severity. A former district council member noted that the current situation ranks among the gravest the region has witnessed since that year.
Government Relief Measures
The Maharashtra state government has begun extending assistance to the most affected talukas. By the end of September, an additional 43 talukas joined the 265 already declared drought‑hit.
Authorities are debating steps such as crop‑loss assessments, emergency water supply, and fodder distribution. Officials estimate that tackling the drought could impose an extra fiscal burden of about ₹50,000 crore on the state budget.
Nevertheless, immediate relief remains the priority for farmers. Beyond compensation for lost yields, many families urgently need financial support to meet household expenses until they can restart the next agricultural cycle.
