Beed farmers slam government as lack of rain dries up soyabean crop

It has been three to three and a half months since the monsoon season began, but several parts of Beed district have seen almost no rain. The lack of water has caused standing crops in the fields to wither, putting farmers in serious distress. Watching their crop burn before their eyes just as it was ready to be harvested, farmers say their patience is running out.

Speaking to a Marathi news channel, farmers in Beed expressed strong anger at the government's handling of the situation. They said, "Whether farmers live or die, the government does not care." They have demanded that the Chief Minister take immediate note of the situation and declare a drought.

Farmers also questioned the government's priorities. They said the government has time to attend to Manoj Jarange Patil's agitation but no time to visit farmers' fields to assess their losses. The farmers said clearly, "We have no objection to Jarange, but farmers also need to survive." They appealed to the government to take farmers' problems seriously.

Farmers said no minister, legislator, MP or government representative has visited their fields so far to assess the damage. Taunting the administration over this, they said, "If a single cannabis plant had been found in the field, the entire administration would have come running." They expressed anger at the administration's approach and said the lack of rain has also created a shortage of fodder and water for livestock, leaving them with no work.

Due to no rain for the past one and a half months, a soyabean crop spread over six acres has completely dried up. Unable to afford the cost of hiring labourers, a father and son had to uproot the crop themselves, a sight that laid bare the farmers' helplessness. The farmer concerned said he had spent two to two and a half lakh rupees on this crop, money borrowed at interest.

Farmers have also expressed anger at both the government and the opposition. Beed's farmers are now waiting to see whether and when the government takes note of the grave situation, announces help and declares a drought.