Marathwada sowing area shrinks 7% amid rainfall deficit

Cultivation area in Maharashtra's Marathwada region has shrunk by nearly 3.5 lakh hectares this year, with rainfall running 20.3% below average, according to agriculture department data.

The sowing area stands at 46.19 lakh hectare- down 7% from the five-year average of 49.72 lakh hectares, and 2 lakh hectares less than last year, the department said.

Marathwada- comprising Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Beed, Parbhani, Nanded, Hingoli, Dharashiv and Latur districts — has received 479.1mm of rain, 20.3% below the expected 586.1mm. The deficit is sharper in Parbhani (34.7%) and Latur (40.6%), according to a separate official report.

The contraction is most visible in cash crops. Cotton acreage has fallen by 2.65 lakh hectares to 12.14 lakh hectares, while sugarcane cultivation has plunged from an average of 3.24 lakh hectares to just 43,821 hectares this season, the agriculture department said.

Farmers have shifted towards soybean, maize and sunflower instead. Soybean acreage has risen 12% to 25.74 lakh hectares, maize has expanded 5% to 2.68 lakh hectares, and sunflower cultivation has grown 39% to 2,289 hectares, the department added.