Pune: Due to the ongoing heavy monsoon rains, more than 100% rainfall has been recorded in 314 talukas across the state so far. Consequently, the area of crop damage has exceeded 1.38 lakh hectares.

The preliminary estimate indicates that over 1.5 lakh hectares of crops have been affected. The administration is currently conducting assessments of the damaged crops, and the extent of the damage may increase further.

According to the latest crop damage report, the number of districts affected by rainfall damage has now reached 25. Two weeks ago, rice farmers in the state were eagerly awaiting good rainfall.

However, some rice-producing talukas are now experiencing excessive rainfall, and farmers are hoping for a dry spell. In Sindhudurg district, rice crops over 1,440 hectares in talukas like Sawantwadi, Dodamarg, Kudal, Vaibhavwadi, Devgad, Malvan, Kankavli, and Vengurla have been destroyed.

This year, the state has received an average of 686 millimeters of rainfall over the past 57 days, compared to the average total monsoon rainfall of 1,075 millimeters.

So far, 64% of the total expected rainfall has been received this year. Notably, there has been continuous rainfall for 30 days in July, with 141% of the total expected rainfall for July falling in just the last three days.

Due to the heavy rainfall, the total Kharif sowing area has now exceeded 134 lakh hectares, compared to the state's average Kharif sowing area of 142 lakh hectares. It is expected that this year's sowing will exceed the average.