Hometown Post
After Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat have also declared drought, widening the agricultural crisis across states. The Rajasthan government has declared drought in 80 tehsils across 14 districts. Jodhpur has the highest number of drought-hit tehsils at 12, followed by Barmer and Jalore with 10 each, Balotra with nine and Pali with eight.
Out of these 80 tehsils, 69 tehsils are categorised as severely drought-hit and 11 as moderately drought-hit. With crops destroyed and fodder shortages looming, the Rajasthan government has announced cattle camps in affected areas to help farmers. It has also announced a six-month suspension of the farm loan recovery.
Crops including bajra, jowar, moong, moth beans and sesame have been destroyed. The water level in Jodhpur stood at a dangerously low 15.15% as of October 16. In Gujarat, the government has declared drought in four districts — Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar and Porbandar.
Crops including bajra, groundnut, soybean, sugarcane, pulses, fruits and vegetables have been damaged in the affected areas. The state government claims it has been providing fodder at cheaper rates since July. Meanwhile, the Karnataka government said its latest estimates indicate that 80% of the kharif crop has been destroyed by drought.
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Source: CNBC TV18
