Declare Wet Drought in Pune, Waive Loans of Affected Farmers – Supriya Sule
Baramati MP Supriya Sule has urged the Maharashtra government to declare a “wet drought” in Pune district following continuous heavy rains. She also demanded a waiver of farmers’ loans to ease their financial burden.
The persistent heavy rainfall across Pune district has created an unusual scenario of “wet drought,” where excess waterlogging is damaging standing crops. Baramati MP Supriya Sule has raised the issue, urging the Maharashtra government to officially declare the region as facing a wet drought. According to her, this declaration is necessary to provide immediate relief measures for the affected farming community. She stressed that while drought is commonly associated with water scarcity, continuous rains can also devastate crops and rural livelihoods.
Farmers in several talukas of Pune, including Baramati, Daund, Indapur, and Purandar, have reported heavy losses in soybean, sugarcane, and onion crops. The excessive moisture has either destroyed crops or reduced their market value significantly. Supriya Sule pointed out that many small and marginal farmers have taken loans for crop production, and the losses will make repayment extremely difficult. She urged the government to take proactive steps before the situation worsens.
The MP has also demanded a comprehensive loan waiver for affected farmers in Pune district. She emphasized that only loan restructuring will not suffice, as farmers already burdened with debt may not be able to repay without strong financial support. According to her, a waiver combined with input subsidies for the next cropping season could help farmers recover and regain confidence.
Sule further highlighted the broader consequences of ignoring the crisis. If farmers are not supported in time, it could lead to distress migration, reduced crop output, and a long-term impact on the rural economy. She appealed to the state and central governments to coordinate their efforts in tackling the problem and to ensure farmers’ grievances are not neglected.
Experts have acknowledged that the concept of “wet drought” needs more recognition in policy frameworks. While dry droughts are quickly identified, excess rainfall events often escape adequate classification. Agricultural scientists suggest that declaring wet droughts officially would not only help provide compensation but also encourage the adoption of better drainage and crop insurance mechanisms in future.
