As weather experts at India Meteorological Department (IMD) observe a massive decline in rainfall over the region of north Madhya Maharashtra, there could be a serious threat over this area in the next few years. The weather analyst stated that monsoon trends are changing in Maharashtra which might have an adverse impact on both agriculture and economy.
The current rainfall figures are indicating a downward trend in this annual average rainfall. The average rainfall in these regions, however, ranges anywhere between 700 mm and 1,200 mm.
The report was presented as part of the annual monsoon 2016 workshop organised by the India Meteorological Society (Pune branch) in the city on Wednesday. The areas affected include districts in north Madhya Maharashtra — Nashik, Nandurbar, Dhule and Jalgaon and some parts of Ahmednagar.
The agriculture ministry identifies this region as Western Ghat zone, under which 25% of the total area is covered by forest. The affected area is primarily being used as farm land for the cultivation of various fruits and vegetables like grapes and onions. Apart from these, there is a sizeable cultivation of tur, gram, jamun, bajra, rice, jowar and sugarcane.
In usual monsoon trends, the region receives showers from the south-west monsoon from the month of June to September due to the Arabian Sea influence. Although this rain-bearing cycle is wearing out before it reaches north of Maharashtra.
“As a result, these regions are sometimes deprived of even the normal rainfall during monsoon,” said Subhangi Bhute, an IMD official from Mumbai.
According to another IMD scientist and agriculture meteorologist R Balasubramanian, June and July are crucial months, as that is the period when sowing of Kharif crops has to be undertaken. “Until mid-July, there must be good rains in order to achieve good crop yield during Kharif Season,” he said.
