Buldhana farmers protest drought at tehsil office, demand relief

Rain has been absent for several days in Jalgaon Jamod taluka of Buldhana district, and farmers are bearing the brunt of it. Kharif crops such as soybean, cotton, tur, moong, urad and maize are under threat due to lack of water. Several villages in the district are facing drought-like conditions. Farmers held a protest outside the Jalgaon Jamod tehsil office demanding that the taluka be immediately declared drought-affected.

The protest was led by young activist Akshay Patil. Farmers submitted a memorandum to the chief minister through the tehsildar. The memorandum said conditions had become very serious due to the lack of rain, and demanded immediate financial assistance for affected farmers, compensation under crop insurance, relief on loans, and arrangements for fodder and water for livestock.

Farmers also said that heavy rain on 30 and 31 July in Jalgaon Jamod taluka had caused major flooding in several rivers and streams. The flooding changed the course of some rivers, swept away farmers' animals in several places, and caused large-scale damage to crops. The protesters said that even after so many days, many affected farmers have still not received compensation.

A large number of farmers were present at the protest, including Anilsingh Rajput, Shivdas Khirodkar, Ajay Giri, Vaibhav Jane, Akash Atole, Bhagwat Wagh, Azhar Sheikh, Triloksingh Rajput, Rajendra Rakhunde, Ashok Rakhunde, Amol Bahadre, Sadashiv Jane, Sayyad Bhai, Nilesh Awsare, Sagar Wagh, Sagar Gawai, Ulhas Jhate, Sachin Jhate, Dnyaneshwar Ambhore, Narayan Khandare and Gautam Tayde.

The farmers' main demands were immediate compensation for crop damage caused by the heavy rain, financial compensation for livestock swept away in the floods, and desilting of rivers and streams to prevent such flooding in future. Farmers said their agitation would continue until action is taken on these demands.