Erratic rain and a 16% drop in the 2014 monsoon has had its effect on scores of hamlets across eight talukas of the district as 63% of kharif villages reflect the drop in crop yield by 50% - highest since 2012.

A preliminary survey carried out by agriculture department and finalised by the revenue department shows 1,065 of the 1,677 kharif villages have reflected a drop in the crop yield below 50 paise.

Anewari is a measure of crop yield in the farms through an experiment and the villages showing less than 50 paise anewari are likely to face shortage of water and scarcity or drought-like situations.

There is a rise in the number of villages falling the below 50 paise anewari category this year as against last year. In 2013, there were 213 such villages.

This year, the number is 1,065 villages, much higher that 803 villages in 2012 when rainfall was very low and the state was reeling from drought-like conditions.

As many as 50% of the district - eight out of 15 talukas, including Peth, Surgana, Deola, Chandwad, Nandgaon, Malegaon, Sinnar and Yeola accounting to 923 villages - do not have a single village that has a yield higher than 50%.

Agriculture officials attribute this to erratic and inconsistent rainfall that failed on timely arrival. "The first issue was late arrival of monsoon, following which the first and almost second sowing was wiped off. Though rain came in later, there were many dry spells. This caused a harsh climate affecting the crops. The result was major loss for the farming community," an official said.

On the groundwater levels being better this time as against last year's, the official said, "This was a positive sign for the rabi season. The groundwater has recorded 0.16 m over the last five-year average, when it was -0.85 m below the average. This means that the groundwater levels have been recharged. This will largely come into play during the rabi season."

Asked if scarcity or drought will be announced in these areas, the official said it would be too early to comment.

"The yield indicates towards a scarcity, but groundwater conditions and other factors will also be taken into consideration before arriving at any conclusion," the official added.

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/