Thane Farmers Seek Drought Status For Five Talukas As Dry Spell Threatens Paddy Crop, Kapil Patil Writes To CM Devendra Fadnavis

Farmers in several talukas of Thane district are facing a looming drought situation due to an extended dry spell threatening their paddy crops, according to a letter written by former Union minister Kapil Patil to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Patil has requested the declaration of drought-affected status for five talukas - Bhiwandi, Shahapur, Murbad, Kalyan and Ambarnath, with the aim of extending government relief measures to affected farmers.

Despite the Maharashtra government bringing 265 talukas under Trigger-1 notification on September 25, none of these five talukas in Thane district have been included. The paddy crop, essential for the livelihood of many farmers in rural Thane, is particularly vulnerable as it relies on timely rainfall at crucial growth stages. The early withdrawal of monsoon rains and the prolonged dry spell have caused challenges such as maintaining crop moisture, preventing diseases, and ensuring healthy growth, with concerns over potential yield declines.

Farmers argue that a simple assessment based on cumulative rainfall figures may overlook critical factors like the timing of rainfall, length of dry spells, soil moisture, and availability of local water sources. They have urged the government to conduct a more comprehensive field-level assessment in the affected areas, beyond just the taluka or district-level rainfall data.

The issue is especially pressing in Shahapur and Murbad, where large segments of the rural population still depend on rain-fed farming. Farmers are demanding a transparent survey to evaluate the exact crop condition, rainfall gaps, soil moisture, and expected production losses, followed by appropriate relief measures if the assessment confirms crop stress.

While the situation may not immediately affect the upcoming rabi season, the prolonged dry spell could also impact the rabi crops, such as pulses, vegetables, and oilseeds, which require adequate soil moisture for successful cultivation.