Bitter end to sweet limes: Farmers in parched Marathwada of India forced to uproot citrus orchards

Published 2024년 4월 9일

Tridge summary

The Marathwada region in Maharashtra, India, is grappling with severe drought conditions that have led to the devastation of sweet lime orchards, a vital source of income for local farmers. Between 2012 and 2016, the area faced consecutive droughts, culminating in a drought declaration across 26 districts in November 2018. Farmers, unable to sustain their water-intensive citrus trees due to plummeting groundwater levels and inadequate irrigation, have been forced to abandon their orchards. The state's response includes deploying water tankers and acknowledging the dropping water storage in dams. Local horticulturists in Kadethan village have resorted to desperate measures, including mortgaging assets for water procurement, as they face financial hardships and a lack of government support. The persistent drought since 2012 and the recent drought declaration in several talukas have left farmers with little hope for relief, highlighting the escalating water crisis in the region.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

The scarcity of water in Maharashtra has dealt a death blow to once-vibrant sweet lime orchards of Marathwada region. Farmers in the regions are filled with bitter despair as they are forced to abandon their crops due to the unrelenting drought conditions gripping the region. Maharashtra is one of the largest producers of sweet limes in India. These orchards have long been the lifeblood of countless families, their verdant canopy standing as a testament to years of toil and tradition. Between 2012 and 2016, the Marathwada region consecutively faced drought or drought-like situations. In November 2018, the state government also declared droughts in 20,000 villages across 26 districts. Read more: In rain-shadow Marathwada, everyone loves tankers In this battle against nature’s fury on the warming planet, the sweet lime orchards have become unfortunate casualties. The thirsty citrus trees demand a steady supply of water to flourish. After years of debt to maintain the fruit trees, ...

Source: Down To Earth