Mumbai, 30 Sep (Commoditiescontrol): Nasik district of Maharashtra continues to be battered by incessant rains during the month of September, which has caused extensive damage to standing kharif crops. Many areas are suffering from condition known as wet drought. As a result, recently harvested pulses crops are also impacted.
According to the Agriculture Department report, the average area of pulse crops is already showing a decline. Rains during the harvesting stage has damaged the ripened grains of Moong beans and Urad crops. Due to crop loss, the production has been affected and farmers are staring at loss.
As per the final sowing report of the Agriculture Department, the average area under pulse crops in the district is 35,877.65 hectares. Out of which sowing has been completed on 32,479.61 hectares. The area under pulses is 90.53% of previous year while sowing has dropped by 10%.
Meanwhile the crops were fully blossomed and reached maturity stage in August; but continuous rains for the last fifteen days of September, caused water logging in the fields. Due to this, the harvesting work was interrupted and the harvested crops was left unprotected.
The ready pods of pulses crops, mainly Moong bean and Urad, were damaged in the field due to soaking in the rain water. So the crops are soiled.
This year Moong cultivation has been slightly ahead of the average in certain areas. Nandgaon and Yeola taluka have witnessed increase Moong cultivation. Also, plantations in Malegaon and Deola taluks were on a large scale.
In Satana, Niphad, Sinnar talukas due to continuous rains, the crop which has reached the stage of harvesting has been affected.
Cultivation of Urad crop is below average. This crop has also been hit hard by rain. The blackened pods have been damaged by continuous rains. The fields are waterlogged.
Although, the preliminary report do not show loss of pulses crop, but farmers fear of losing entire production this season. Continuous rains have wreck havoc in the district.
Ironically, the preliminary damage assessment report released by the Department of Agriculture does not show the damage on the area where pulse crops are sown. So the true picture will be clear only after the investigation is completed.
The information in the preliminary report is not real. If that is the case, the question is also being raised on this occasion whether there will be investigation for the damage caused to the farmers' fields or not.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau; +91-22-40015513)