The Maharashtra government today said a drought-like situation exists in 1,053 villages in Ahmednagar and Solapur districts.
The government had already declared more than 15,747 villages across the state as drought-hit.
Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse told the Legislative Council the estimated crop yield in 408 villages in Ahmednagar and 645 villages in Solapur were below "50 paise" - 50 per cent of the expected yield - so a drought-like situation had been declared for them at a Cabinet meeting last evening.
"Rabbi crop is the main source of income for farmers in Solapur and Ahmednagar districts....Unseasonal rains ruined Rabbi crops. The spot inspections are yet to be completed but the situation is very bad, so we decided to announce drought in both the districts," he said.
Rahata, Shevgaon, Parner, and Jamkhed tehsils in Ahmednagar are the worst-affected by unseasonal rains and the crop yield in these areas is below 50 paise, he said.
In Solapur district, the worst-affected tehsils are South Solapur, Barshi, Akkalkot, Madha, Mohol, Mangalwedha and Sangola.
In condition of a drought, farmers gets eligible for crop loans from the district cooperative banks, forcible recovery of bank loans are stopped, education fees of the students are waived, and power connections of agricultural pumps are not disconnected even if the bills are unpaid.
