Irregular rainfall and moisture evaporation have raised concerns over maize cultivation across several parts of Maharashtra’s Marathwada region this month, an agriculture official said on Monday.
This year, around 2,56,650.38 hectares of land in the Marathwada districts, including Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Beed, Hingoli, Dharashiv, Latur, Parbhani, and Nanded, are expected to be brought under maize (corn) cultivation.
As per a report from the agriculture department, sowing had been completed on 98,891.20 hectares of land by June 19.
“The evaporation has raised concern for the maize crop in the region,” said Prakash Deshmukh, the district superintending agriculture officer, reported PTI.
“A crop like maize is sensitive to moisture and water. The area under maize cultivation has gone up in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and other parts of Marathwada, replacing the cotton crop in about 50,000 hectares,” he added.
In several parts of the region, declining moisture levels are causing water stress for the maize crop, Deshmukh said.
“The situation is critical, but not out of control. A small spell of rain can help regain the moisture and the crop can sustain,” he noted.
An official further stated that the Marathwada region, which comprises eight districts, has received 31% less rainfall so far this month.
The average rainfall for June in the region is 102.7 mm. So far, it has received only 70.5 mm, compared to 158.1 mm during the same period last year, the official said.
