Severe Drought Decimates Sweet Lemon Trees in Maharashtra

The ongoing drought in Maharashtra has severely impacted over 11 lakh sweet lemon trees across Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Jalna districts. With more than 4,062 hectares of crops affected, farmers are facing significant losses. Despite Maharashtra leading in sweet lemon production, consistent water scarcity remains a persistent challenge.

A severe drought gripping Maharashtra has wreaked havoc on sweet lemon orchards, officials reported on Wednesday. Over 11 lakh trees have withered across Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Jalna districts due to a significant water shortage, a phenomenon affecting over 4,062 hectares of land.

The state leads in sweet lemon production, particularly in these two districts, which together span 35,850 hectares of cultivated orchard land. An agriculture department official disclosed that due to last year's scanty rainfall, approximately 11,25,174 trees have dried up, significantly impacting local farmers.

Jalna has witnessed the maximum devastation, with trees on 3,600 hectares affected. As reiterated by officials, sweet lemon crops have the potential for high returns if there's a sufficient water supply throughout the year. However, recurring droughts force farmers to cut down otherwise lucrative trees every five years, leading to substantial losses.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)