Severe to exceptional drought in Maharashtra threatens soybean, tur dal and cotton crops
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Cropping patterns & irrigation· Prelims + Mains·
Climate-induced water scarcity and its impact on rain-fed agriculture: a GS3 and Agriculture case study.
Why in news
Maharashtra's Water Resources Department reported severe to exceptional drought conditions threatening rain-fed soybean, tur dal, and cotton crops.
Background
Maharashtra produces 4.85 million tonnes of soybean (38.5% of India's 12.6 million tonnes) and 1.18 million tonnes of tur dal (32.8% of 3.59 million tonnes). Dam storage in the state fell to 75.5%, with Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar dropping to 45.4%.
Facts for Prelims
- FactMaharashtra produces 38.5% of India's total soybean production (4.85 million tonnes).
- FactMaharashtra produces 32.8% of India's total tur dal production (1.18 million tonnes).
- PlaceChhatrapati Sambhajinagar reported a dam storage level of 45.4%.
- BodyMaharashtra's Water Resources Department is the body reporting dam storage levels.
Prelims practice question
What percentage of India's total tur dal production is accounted for by Maharashtra?
- (a)18.9%
- (b)25.4%
- (c)42.1%
- (d)32.8%
Show answer
Answer: (d) 32.8% — Maharashtra produces 1.18 million tonnes of tur dal, which is 32.8% of India's 3.59 million tonnes.
For Mains
Q. Discuss the impact of climate-induced droughts on rain-fed agriculture in Maharashtra and suggest measures to enhance crop resilience.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Supply chain vulnerability: High concentration of soybean and tur dal production in drought-prone regions
- Irrigation gap: Dependence on rain-fed systems vs. expanding demand for water-intensive crops
- Climate adaptation: Need for drought-resistant seed varieties and micro-irrigation infrastructure
Keywords: Rain-fed agriculture · Climate resilience · Water scarcity · Crop diversification · Agricultural output
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.