Due to strong winds, rains with hail during the last few days in central and western India, the worries of the farmers have increased. The farmers of this region are already facing problems due to early onset of summer.
According to reports, standing crops in some districts of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh and Saurashtra and Kutch region of Gujarat have been damaged by hail. An accurate assessment of the damage would be possible only after a proper survey by the government officials. If the rains and strong winds continue in the coming days, the standing crop in the field may suffer more damage.
Farmers said that unseasonal rains and hailstorm have damaged the crops of cumin, castor and coriander in Gujarat. However, standing crops have been damaged in Mandsaur, Neemuch, Rajgarh and Sehore in Madhya Pradesh. The crop is to be harvested in the next 8-10 days in these areas. Bhagwan Meena, founder of Kisan Swaraj Sanghatana, a Madhya Pradesh-based farmers’ group, said, “At this time due to rain and strong winds, the wheat crop can be damaged and its color will also be affected.”
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tweeted last night that farmers need not worry. The state government is ready to get a proper assessment of the damage done. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said unseasonal rains have damaged standing crops in five districts of the state. Shinde has directed the officials to conduct an assessment or panchnama of the loss caused to the farmers. The affected districts of Maharashtra are Thane, Palghar including several parts of Washim, Nashik and Aurangabad.
According to farmers in neighboring Gujarat, unseasonal rains, hailstorm and strong winds have affected crops of cumin, castor and coriander in northern Gujarat, including Saurashtra and Kutch regions. Jitendra Ahir of Kutch region said, “Standing crops of cumin, celery and mustard have been affected.” According to weather experts, the area and intensity of unseasonal rain and hailstorm may reduce in the next few days.
In the weather report released on Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department said that strong winds and hailstorm are expected in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra in the next 24 hours. Strong winds and hailstorm are expected over North Odisha, Gangetic plains of West Bengal and Jharkhand on March 9-10. Due to change in weather, maximum temperature may drop by 2-4 degree Celsius over central India and Maharashtra during next two days. Therefore, after this, the temperature may increase by 2-4 degrees in the next three days.
