Large parts of Maharashtra are currently facing severe to exceptional drought conditions, raising concerns not just for farmers in the state but also for millions of consumers across the country. As one of India’s biggest producers of onions, soybeans, sugarcane, tur dal and cotton, Maharashtra plays a crucial role in the nation’s farm economy and food supply.
Tur dal is one of India’s most-consumed pulses, making its production highly important for food inflation. Similarly, Maharashtra contributes 32.8% of India’s tur dal production, accounting for 1.18 million tonnes of the country’s 3.59 million tonnes output.
If water availability continues to decline, crops that are currently withstanding the dry spell could face additional stress. the drought poses the biggest risk to rain-fed crops such as soybean, tur dal, and cotton While not every crop will be affected equally. With Maharashtra occupying such a large share in the production of several key commodities, a prolonged drought could have consequences that extend far beyond the state’s borders, potentially influencing food supplies and prices across India.
Because they determine how much irrigation water will be available in the coming weeks and months, lower reservoir levels are significant.
