Akola: Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday visited villages in Akola and Buldhana districts to assess the condition of soyabean and other kharif crops, as farmers reported severe stress following a prolonged dry spell. During his interaction with farmers in the fields, Shinde said the crisis faced by farmers this year was serious. He assured farmers that the state govt would provide substantial assistance.“The crisis this year is big, and the govt will also provide major assistance. We are visiting the farmlands and trying to understand problems of farmers,” Shinde said. DYCM also sought to reassure farmers ahead of the Dussehra-Diwali festive season, saying that the govt would not allow the financial distress caused by crop losses to overshadow their celebrations.Deputy CM inspected soyabean fields and spoke to farmers about the impact of the prolonged gap in rainfall. Farmers showed him soyabean pods which, they said, had failed to develop properly and were showing poor grain formation.The farmers told Shinde that although the soyabean crop was still standing in several fields, the yield is likely to be low. They said prolonged absence of rainfall during a crucial stage had affected crop development.The visit also brought to the fore the mounting financial pressure on small and marginal farmers. At Vyala village in Akola district, farmer Samadhan Sulkar from Kanheri village became emotional while narrating his ordeal to Shinde.Sulkar said he had taken a bank loan for soyabean cultivation, but did not have enough money for other farm operations, including spraying pesticides and meeting cultivation expenses. He said he eventually pledged his wife’s mangalsutra with a moneylender to raise funds for the crop. He also said lack of money had affected his child’s education. The farmer said Shinde’s assurance has given him some hope.Several other farmers who interacted with TOI during the visit said they had invested large amounts in soyabean cultivation but were now worried about the returns. “More than 50 days have passed without adequate rainfall. The crop has suffered badly. The plants are visible, but the pods are not filling properly,” farmers said.Farmers said reduced production could make it difficult to repay bank loans and other borrowings taken to finance cultivation. Some farmers said that even if govt assistance was announced, they would still have to deal with accumulated debt and household expenses.“We have to repay our loans and also manage our families. Under these circumstances, thinking about celebrating Diwali itself has become difficult,” one farmer said.Farmers said they are now looking towards govt relief based on an assessment of crop damage.
