Drought declared in three-quarters of India's richest state

Mumbai, September 26 - Maharashtra, India's richest state, has been declared drought-stricken by the government, covering 74 percent of its territory, after a prolonged period of low rainfall in the region that includes the bustling metropolis of Mumbai, according to a recent announcement. The declaration followed a forecast by the national weather department indicating that India would conclude its annual monsoon season with a rainfall deficit, a situation that could jeopardize the livelihoods of farmers.

A stronger-than-usual El Nino climate phenomenon, known for bringing drier conditions to South Asia, has been cited as one of the factors contributing to the abnormal rain patterns, the weather department reported. The Maharashtra government, which is a vast western state whose capital, Mumbai, serves as India's financial and commercial hub, expressed solidarity with its farmer community during the crisis.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis pledged the administration's unwavering support to the farmers, stating that the government would closely examine the extent of crop damage and ensure timely assistance to farmers, farm laborers, and rural families in need. India, with over 1.3 billion people, relies heavily on the monsoon rains, which typically occur between June and September, to sustain agriculture and industry.

Maharashtra, home to 130 million people and a significant agricultural producer of cotton, soybeans, sugarcane, and pulses, has a substantial number of farmers who are highly susceptible to crop failures due to their dependence on rainfall for irrigation. The scarcity of rains is also affecting southern India, where Karnataka state has also announced support measures for farmers in drought-affected regions.

El Nino, a naturally occurring climate pattern characterized by warmer ocean temperatures in the Pacific, can alter wind and rainfall patterns globally. Scientists warn that human-induced climate change can exacerbate the effects of El Nino by increasing the availability of energy and moisture, thereby fueling extreme weather events.