In this drought-hit taluka of Maharashtra, monsoon came, but a long dry spell followed

In Maharashtra's Sakri taluka, situated in Dhule district, farmers are grappling with a drought situation that has worsened due to a prolonged dry spell following their monsoon. This taluka, among 265 declared drought-affected talukas, experienced only 50% of the average rainfall between August and September. The rains arrived early, leading to stunted kharif crops and inadequate moisture for rabi crops.

Rainfall in the region was mostly captured by the Western Ghats, leaving farmers with inadequate water for their fields. Some farmers compare the current situation to the 1972 drought, as they waited for the rains that never came, their hopes dashed. With no relief in sight, these farmers face the prospect of another cycle of debt and potential crop failures.