The prolonged dry spell in Marathwada and Vidarbha may lead to crop loss. If it does not rain in the next four to five days, the government will have review the situation and announce measures to save crops or compensate farmers in parts of central Maharashtra and Vidarbha. The rainfall in many districts of Vidarbha has been poor, compared to last year’s average. Read: Maharashtra farmers resume protests for loan waiverAlthough the central Maharashtra or Marathwada’s average is close to last year’s figures, some districts have witnessed a long dry spell, threatening soyabean, cotton and oilseed crops. Meanwhile, the CM has directed the relief and rehabilitation and cooperation department to link Aadhar numbers with the 7x12 extracts of farmers while transferring drought relief, to weed out corruption and misuse.

Source: Hindustan Times August 15, 2017 04:41 UTC