The Sinhagad and western Haveli areas of Pune district are facing severe drought-related crop losses, with more than 80% of paddy destroyed in several villages and farmers still awaiting compensation because the taluka has not been officially declared drought-affected.
The damage has left many farming households without enough rice even for domestic consumption during the Diwali period, according to a report by Pudhari. Paddy and other kharif crops have dried up across hamlets and villages in the Sinhagad and western Haveli region, affecting tribal, Dalit and other farming communities as well as agricultural labourers.
The affected locations include Khamgaon Maval, Mogarwadi, Durupadara, Varadade, Malkhed, Ambi, Kalyan, Arvi, Rahatwade, Kondhanpur, Avasarwadi, Khanapur, Sonapur, Jambhali and Mandavi. The region is known as one of Pune district’s important paddy-growing belts.
In many paddy fields, the crops have dried before producing grain. Farmers are also reporting a shortage of straw, leaving them without fodder for cattle. The losses extend beyond paddy to other kharif crops, according to the report.
A joint team from the revenue, agriculture and panchayat departments has conducted crop-loss inspections and prepared panchnamas under the supervision of Haveli tehsildar Archana Nikam. The administration has submitted proposals to the state government seeking compensation for the affected farmers.
Nikam said compensation would be distributed to the affected farmers after the government approves the proposals. However, the report states that the assessment process has not yet been completed across the entire affected area.
The absence of an official drought declaration has also excluded farmers in the taluka from the government’s reported Diwali assistance of Rs 5,000 and other related benefits. This has created a gap between the crop damage recorded on the ground and access to relief linked to formal administrative classification.
The damage assessment has been complicated by technical problems with the e-crop inspection system in the hilly and valley areas of western Haveli and Sinhagad. Officials reportedly faced difficulties completing digital crop inspections but proceeded with physical damage assessment and panchnamas.
The pending government approval is now the immediate administrative milestone for the affected households. Completion of the remaining damage assessments will determine how many farmers are included in the compensation proposals and when relief can be distributed.
