Grape, onion crops damaged in over 90,000 hectares in 18 districts

The weather department said the rain and hailstorms resulted from the interaction of easterlies with the trough caused by the western disturbances. On Sunday, heavy rains and hailstorm was reported in Marathwada, North Maharashtra as well as Pune and its neighbouring region. Light to moderate rainfall was reported in parts of Vidharbha.

Nashik district reported 27.8 mm rain, while Nandurbar received 61.8mm rainfall. Parbhani, Nanded, Jalna, Chhatrapati Sambhanijangar and other districts also reported moderate to heavy rainfall above 61mm. Districts like Dhule, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Amravati, Nagpur Ahmednagar, Hingoli, Jalna among other areas reported extensive crop damage due to rain and hailstorm.

Onions, grapes, bananas, and oranges were among some of the crops most affected. While in the case of grapes, farmers reported fruit cracking, onion farmers reported loss to their harvested crop.

For farmers in Nashik, it was a double whammy as hailstorms lashed the region earlier this year and damaged the harvested crop. The effect on onion crops was felt on Monday as the average traded price of the bulb in Lasalgaon–the largest onion market in the country in Nashik’s Niphad taluka– touched Rs 4,500/quintal as against Rs 3,700 on Friday. This single day jump in late kharif, onion traders said, was due to the damage to the standing and harvested crop.

Vilas Shinde, chairman and managing director of Nashik-based Sahyadri Farms, the largest grape exporters of India, said extensive damage was reported in Niphad, Chandwad and other talukas of Nashik. “Till about two weeks ago, the crop was in excellent condition but the rain and hailstorm have badly affected the standing grape crop,” he said.

Meanwhile, in some parts of Ahmednagar, farmers reported loss to rabi crops as well as poultry sheds. Farmers in Parner taluka of Ahmednagar have reported massive loss to their poultry sheds,which has led to the death of over 5,000 birds. Crops such as chana and maize have also been badly affected. In Pune district, rice plantation in Ambegaon and other parts have also been hit.

The rain and hailstorm came at a time when sowing exercise in Maharashtra is already slow due to low soil moisture. More rainfall is likely to affect mango farming in the Konkan region. In the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions, cotton and cereals are are likely to be hit.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde issued directions to conduct panchnama of the crop loss on a war footing. “I have asked officials to conduct the panchnama as early as possible so that farmers can be compensated,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Monday said the district collectors have been directed to assess the situation and furnish preliminary reports on unseasonal rain and hailstorms and their effect on farming in Maharashtra.

Fadnavis told the media in Nagpur, “Over the past two days, there have been unseasonal rain and hailstorm. The rabi crops are in various stages of growth. We have urged the district authorities to make a ground assessment and submit a preliminary report.”

Adding that the state government is always concerned about the welfare of farmers, he said, “It will provide all necessary help once the report comes.”