According to agricultural department officials, unseasonal rain has affected crops on over 1,300 hectares of agricultural land in Jalgaon, India. The rain, accompanied by hail and storms, impacted six sub-regions over the weekend. A primary assessment was conducted in Raver, Muktainagar, and Bodwad talukas.
"There was extensive damage to banana plantations in the Jalgaon district due to unseasonal rain. The estimated damage is over 1,300 hectares, although a primary assessment of 596 hectares could be done," stated an official. The final assessment figures could vary.
Of the 596 hectares assessed, banana plantations account for 540 hectares. Other crops such as corn, wheat, and jowari were also affected, though surveys for these crops are pending. While Raver, Muktainagar, and Bodwad talukas experienced rain on Friday, Chopada, Yaval, and Jalgaon received it on Saturday and Sunday, delaying the complete assessment of damage.
Guardian minister Gulabrao Patil has called for immediate assistance for farmers. Patil instructed revenue officials to complete the panchanama quickly and file a report to the government. "Once this report is available, we will send it to seek assistance for the farmers," said Patil.
In Raver, 732 farmers from 19 villages reported losses in 510 hectares of crops. In Muktainagar, 117 farmers across three villages lost crops on 55.5 hectares, while in Bodwad, 30 farmers in three villages lost crops on 31 hectares.
In Nashik, heavy rain accompanied by hail and storms affected crops in Yeola and Sinnar talukas on Sunday. The damage was less severe compared to Jalgaon. Primary assessments indicate that 31 farmers lost crops across 14 hectares, with onions being the most affected crop. In Sinnar, 29 farmers lost onion crops on 10 hectares. Damage was also reported in Niphad and Chandwad due to unseasonal rain, but assessments are pending.
Source: Times of India