Concerns of significant losses for farmers in Maharashtra

Due to the lack of rainfall, sowing of the Kharif crop is affected, and there are concerns of significant losses for farmers in Maharashtra.
In many parts of Maharashtra, including Pune, the sowing of crops has either been delayed or the crops are at risk of damage due to insufficient rainfall, as the time for harvesting has already passed.
After assessing the current situation, the Maharashtra Agriculture Department believes that the production of Kharif crops in the state will be affected due to poor monsoon activity.
According to the figures shared by the State Agriculture Department, Kharif sowing for the year 2023 has taken place on 140.14 lakh hectares in the state, which is 99 percent of the usual sowing. However, in many regions such as Marathwada, Northern Maharashtra, and Konkan, prolonged rainfall deficits have left crops in almost critical conditions, and re-sowing may not be possible.
According to Sunil Chavan, the Agriculture Commissioner of Maharashtra, the state received 83 percent of its rainfall from June 1st to August 30th this year. Chavan stated, "During this period, the state recorded 677 mm of rainfall, while the normal rainfall should have been approximately 815 mm. There are 385 talukas in the state where zero rainfall has been recorded in the last 21 days, and in 496 tehsils, there has been no rainfall activity for the past 15 to 21 days.