drought of Maharashtra in 2016
Answers
Answer:
It took 60,000 farm suicides for us to realise that the cause behind the drought in Maharashtra isn’t something as basic as scanty rainfall. The drought, which started around 2014, has become so grave that only 3% of water is left in 11 major dams of Marathwada, the focal point of the situation.
Statistics from a reputed organisation have helped us reach the conclusion that unmonitored cultivation of sugarcane, a commercial water-thirsty crop, is the main culprit behind most of Maharashtra’s water problems.
But there are still some aspects that don’t add up – How did we not reach this conclusion earlier? How is a region as dry as Rajasthan able to cope with the calamity better than the richest state of the country? How come the data on all government websites regarding rainfall vary from each other? We’ve tried to put all the puzzle pieces together and give you a more holistic view of the situation.
How Is Sugar Cultivation Related To The Water Crisis?
The sugarcane crop is a water guzzler, but also extremely profitable. India has the largest area under sugar production in the world and is second only to Brazil in terms of productivity.
According to the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, in Maharashtra – the state which produces close to 34% of sugar in India – 2,450 litres of water goes into producing one kilogram of sugar. Around 70% of the water available in the state for farming purposes is taken by sugarcane cultivators and, sadly, 80% of that water is invested in areas known for water-deficiency, i.e., unsuitable for sugar cultivation.
South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) has drawn another relation with the available figures – if 50% of the water being used to cultivate sugarcane in the region was diverted to production of pulses, it would mean livelihood security to over 21 lakh farmers as against 1.1 lakh sugarcane farmers supported now.
Why Sugarcane? Why Not Other Crops?
Due to politicians being a part of the business ever since the first sugar mill was set up in the 1950s, the sugar industry has had quite a robust and stable past. Its vices have always been ignored, therefore, farmers think of the sugarcane industry as a safe bet as far as remuneration is considered. Moreover, it’s comparatively easier to cultivate and isn’t prone to pests and diseases.
Comparison With Other States
According to the Indian Sugar Industry, comparison of crop rotation basis for a year per hectare of land, Maharashtra consumes 2800mm of rainfall per hectare of land, while Tamil Nadu consumes 1400mm and Karnataka consumes 1550mm. Not only that, the state’s average rainfall last year was more than the national average rainfall by almost 200mm.
How Come Maharashtra Is Consuming More Water Than Other States For The Same Area?
Explanation:
Answer:
The causes of drought in Maharashtra in 2016 were because of water scarcity due to deficient rainfall from the southwest monsoon season. Explanation: Global warming and the hot and dry conditions during summer have led to strong heat waves that are drying up the water surfaces in the country.