Pune drought conditions have intensified in Indapur taluka, where declining groundwater levels and a lack of rain are damaging kharif crops, threatening fodder availability and raising concerns about the coming rabi season, according to a report by Sakal.
Farmers in Redani, Lakhewadi, Reda, Pandharwadi, Vadapuri and Avasari are reporting water shortages. Wells and borewells in these areas have recorded a fall in water levels, making it difficult to provide sufficient irrigation to standing crops. Soil moisture has also declined, and crops are beginning to dry during the season.
Sugarcane, maize and fodder crops are among those under pressure. Farmers are rationing the water available to them in an effort to keep maize and other crops alive, while also trying to protect sugarcane and green fodder. The report said the situation had become visible in October because of the absence of adequate rain in the taluka.
The immediate concern extends beyond crop losses. A reduction in green fodder could create difficulties for livestock owners, while inadequate dry fodder supplies could make it harder to maintain cattle and other animals. Farmers in the affected areas fear that the shortage of water and fodder will increase the cost and difficulty of livestock care.
The situation also highlights the consequences of dividing drought relief according to administrative or government criteria. Sakal reported that drought has been declared in some talukas, but argued that areas outside those classifications are facing similar conditions. That creates a gap between the formal reach of relief measures and the conditions experienced by farmers in neighbouring parts of the same district.
For Indapur’s farmers, the pressure is therefore extending across agricultural cycles. Damage to the kharif harvest is being accompanied by uncertainty over whether enough water will remain for the rabi season. The report said that the failure of the returning monsoon had brought the water shortage earlier than expected, leaving farmers concerned about how to sustain crops and livestock in the months ahead.
The next steps will depend on government measures to address crop damage, falling groundwater levels and possible fodder shortages. Sakal reported that without concrete measures, conditions in Indapur could become more difficult in the coming period.
