Amravati: A 40-day dry spell has caused extensive damage to major Kharif crops, including soyabean, cotton and tur, in Amravati district, with the agriculture department fearing a decline of up to 40% in average crop yield.Orange growers are also staring at heavy losses as insufficient rainfall has triggered drought-like conditions across the district.Farmers sowed crops on 6,39,140 hectares, about 94% of the district’s average Kharif area of 6,82,992 hectares. This included cotton on 2,69,882 hectares, soyabean on 2,06,296 hectares, tur on 1,12,299 hectares and maize on 40,447 hectares.Though sowing was satisfactory initially, the prolonged dry spell has severely affected crop growth. Of the district’s 14 talukas, 11 have recorded a rainfall deficit of more than 25%, while the crop-water situation has become critical in 69 of the 92 revenue circles. Except in Anjangaon Surji taluka, the situation is delicate across the district.Soyabean, which has a 95-110-day crop cycle, is currently at the crucial pod-filling stage. The negligible rain recorded on Sept 10 and 11, after the prolonged dry spell, failed to restore soil moisture. With temperatures soaring above 35.8 degrees Celsius, the crop is withering. A 40% to 50% decline in soyabean production is considered inevitable due to the intense heat.Cotton has suffered around 30% damage, while flowering tur and maize are also in dire need of rain.The Meteorological Department has forecast rain from Sept 24, but farmers remain sceptical as several forecasts have failed to bring significant rainfall so far. If the rain does not arrive in time, farmers could face severe losses this Kharif season.Agriculture officials said scanty rainfall has left insufficient moisture in the soil, while rising temperatures are rapidly depleting what remains. This is affecting crop growth and the pod-filling process, making a significant drop in yield likely.
