Dattatray Bharne made the statement after visiting Washim and Nanded districts to assess the damage. In a media briefing in Washim, the agriculture minister revealed that nearly 20.12 lakh hectares of standing crops had been damaged
Soybean, corn, and cotton have been the worst affected due to the excess rainfall, stated Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne. Representational pic
Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne on Wednesday stated that kharif crops on 20.12 lakh hectares have been severely impacted by recent heavy rains and floods, pledging support for farmers facing significant losses, news agency PTI reported. Bharne made the statement after visiting Washim and Nanded districts to assess the damage.
In a media briefing in Washim, the agriculture minister revealed that nearly 20.12 lakh hectares of standing crops had been damaged. He noted that Washim and Nanded bore the brunt of the damage, with other districts, including Yavatmal, Buldhana, Akola, Solapur, Hingoli, Dharashiv, Parbhani, Amravati, and Jalgaon, also reporting crop losses.
“Soybean, corn, and cotton have been the worst affected due to the excess rainfall. Additionally, fruit crops, bajra, sugarcane, onion, jowar, and turmeric have also suffered,” Bharne stated, adding that revenue and agriculture department officials had inspected the affected areas to assess the crop losses, reported PTI. He reassured farmers that the state government would extend immediate assistance to those impacted.
Bharne also highlighted that crops on 4.11 lakh hectares in Washim and Nanded were severely affected, and 350 villages in these districts faced flood-like conditions.
“Sadly, there have also been losses of lives,” he added.
Rain situation under control in Maharashtra, assures CM Fadnavis
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured on Wednesday that the situation in rain-battered Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra is now under control, following a break in the torrential rains that had paralysed the state capital a day earlier.
Fadnavis said that the state government has taken all necessary precautions, deploying National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams in areas affected by heavy rains.
“We are managing the water discharge from dams effectively, and the government is in constant coordination with neighboring states to ensure the release is managed as per our requests,” the Chief Minister told reporters.
Tuesday’s heavy rains had left several low-lying areas in Mumbai submerged, disrupted local train services, and caused widespread disruptions to daily life. However, by Wednesday, the rain had subsided, though intermittent showers continued in some regions.
"The overall rain situation in Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra is largely under control, though some areas are still experiencing heavy rainfall," Fadnavis said, adding that the government has already begun assessing the damage to crops across the state.
He also reiterated that 14 lakh hectares of crops had been affected by the rains and assured that the government would provide necessary aid to the farmers following the completion of damage assessments, reported PTI.
(With PTI inputs)
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