Low Rainfall Damages Kharif Crops, Farmers Seek Compensation In MP’s Barwani

Madhya Pradesh's Barwani district is grappling with the effects of insufficient rainfall, which has damaged Kharif crops in the Pati region and surrounding areas. Farmers in the area report significant losses to maize, cotton, urad, jowar, bajra, moong and cowpea crops. Suresh Bhavre, a farmer from Pati, shared that his six-acre cotton crop, which cost around Rs 15,000-20,000 per acre to cultivate, has dried up due to the lack of rain, making it difficult to recover even the input costs.

Gautam Parmar, another farmer, explained that the inadequate rainfall not only affected the crops but also caused further damage when one or two rains occurred during the season. Deepak Bhavre, a Bomia farmer, revealed that he had taken out a loan to cultivate maize and cotton on three acres, but the insufficient rain damaged the crops. Farmers have also expressed concerns over crop insurance payments, stating that the compensation is often delayed or insufficient compared to the cultivation costs.

Regional MLA Rajan Mandloi has written to the administration seeking a crop-loss survey, adequate compensation, and a drought declaration for the district. The extent of the damage will be determined after the survey is conducted.