Sowing decreases by 17.87 lakh hectares in Marathwada region amid inadequate rainfall

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, July 7 (PTI) The sowing area across eight districts of the Marathwada region in Maharashtra shrank by 17.87 lakh hectares compared to the corresponding period last year due to the delayed onset of monsoon, officials said on Tuesday. The overall sowing percentage in the region comprising Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Beed, Parbhani, Nanded, Hingoli, Dharashiv and Latur districts is around 58 per cent. The average land under cultivation in the last five years was 49.72 lakh hectares. In 2025, sowing took place on 42.42 lakh hectares. However, the area under cultivation shrank to 24.55 lakh hectares as of now, according to a report from the agriculture department. Due to the delayed monsoon, Maharashtra's agriculture department had initially appealed to agriculturists not to sow unless there is satisfactory rainfall. Unlike Konkan and western Maharashtra, the Marathwada region is yet to receive the average quota of rainfall this year," the official said. While the average expected rainfall in Marathwada from June onwards is 176 mm, the current deficit is 13 per cent at 153.7 mm. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Jalna have received rainfall above the expected figures of 100.4 mm and 112.5 mm, respectively. At 66 and 66.3 per cent of the average, respectively, Latur and Parbhani districts have received the lowest rainfall in the region. PTI AW NSK