VALPOI
An eight-day break in rainfall has created serious concern among farmers in the agriculture-dependent Sattari taluka.
After an encouraging start to the monsoon, farmers had enthusiastically begun paddy field preparation, planting cashew and mango grafts, and cultivating marigold flowers, traditional vegetables, yams, ginger, turmeric and other seasonal crops.
However, the sudden dry spell has disrupted agricultural activities, raising fears that newly planted cashew and mango saplings may wither due to insufficient soil moisture.
Sattari is widely known as an agriculture-based taluka where most farmers depend entirely on monsoon rains.
With the onset of the kharif season, large-scale cultivation of paddy, cashew, mango, arecanut, ginger, turmeric, marigold flowers and various indigenous vegetables begins across the region.
The continuous availability of moisture is essential for paddy cultivation. Due to the prolonged dry conditions, several prepared paddy fields have begun drying out. Farmers who have already prepared seedbeds or are ready for transplantation now face uncertainty.
A young farmer, Yogesh Desai from Guleli-Sattari, said he had completed land preparation for yams, marigold flowers and traditional vegetables, while planting had already begun in some areas.
“But the absence of rain for the past eight days has become a major concern. Soil moisture is decreasing rapidly, and we fear that all our hard work and investment may go to waste. Many farmers in Sattari depend on traditional vegetable cultivation for their livelihood. If rain does not return within the next few days, crop production will be severely affected,” said Desai.
CASHEW, MANGO PLANTATIONS
There are also large-scale cashew and mango plantations in the hilly and forest-fringe areas of Sattari. Since these locations lack irrigation facilities, cultivation depends entirely on rainfall. Newly planted grafts require consistent moisture during the initial weeks to establish healthy root systems. With rainfall having come to a halt, soil moisture has dropped considerably, increasing the risk of saplings drying up.
Farmers in areas without alternative water sources are particularly worried. Since these grafts rely on natural rainfall for several months after planting, the current interruption in rainfall has placed their investments at risk.
FLOWERS, VEGETABLE CULTIVATION
During the monsoon, farmers in Sattari cultivate marigold flowers along with traditional vegetables such as ridge gourd, bitter gourd, pumpkin, chillies, brinjal and several other seasonal crops. While many farmers have completed land preparation, others have already begun planting.
The lack of rainfall has reduced soil moisture, affecting seed germination and early crop establishment. Farmers fear that if the rains do not resume within the next four to five days, their investment of labour and money could go in vain. Marigold flowers are in high demand during Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, Dussehra and Diwali, and any setback in cultivation now may reduce production during the festive season.
CHALLENGE FOR AGRICULTURE DEPT
The break in the monsoon has also created challenges for the agriculture department. Although farmers have been advised to complete timely sowing and plantation activities, the lack of rainfall has stalled several agricultural operations. Experts believe the kharif season will regain momentum only after normal rainfall resumes.
Frequent changes in weather patterns, erratic rainfall and extended dry spells are increasingly becoming a major concern for agriculture and may have long-term implications for crop productivity. Agricultural experts believe that if the dry spell continues for a few more days, it could significantly affect the planning and progress of the kharif season.
