Pune heavy rain on Monday damaged grape orchards, onion, rice and vegetable crops across several talukas, while also improving soil conditions for rabi sowing of wheat, chickpea and sorghum, according to a report by Sakal’s Agrowon news service. The rain created a sharply divided picture for farmers, bringing relief to areas facing dry conditions but causing fresh losses in standing and harvested crops.
Rain was reported in Baramati, Indapur, Daund, Purandar, Junnar, Khed, Ambegaon, Maval, Mulshi, Bhor and Velha talukas. Baramati received rain described in the report as resembling an extreme rainfall event, bringing water into streams and drains and leaving roads inundated. Similar waterlogging was reported in parts of Chakan, Khed and Alandi.
The rainfall has come after a break in the monsoon that had already reduced production of kharif crops, including soybean and rice. For farmers affected by dry conditions, the latest showers have created more favourable conditions for sowing rabi crops. The report said the rain has opened the way for sowing sugarcane, chickpea, wheat and sorghum in areas where soil moisture had been a concern.
In Junnar, however, the same weather has increased the pressure on grape and onion growers. Cloudy conditions and rain over three consecutive days have created an environment favourable for rabi sowing but raised the risk of fungal disease in vineyards at the flowering stage. The report said grape growers spent about Rs 2.5 crore on spraying in three days to protect their orchards, leaving many cultivators distressed by the additional cost.
The reported risks include downy mildew and anthracnose in grape orchards. Damage has also been reported in onion and other vegetable crops. The combination of prolonged cloud cover and rainfall is particularly significant for growers whose crops are at sensitive stages, as treatment costs rise even when the final impact on yields is not yet established.
In western Khed, harvested rice was soaked by the rain. Crops that had been cut and left in fields around Chikhlegaon and Kalamodi were reportedly flattened, while rice grains may sprout because of excess moisture. Rice that was still standing and close to harvest was also damaged. The report said this could affect farmers’ annual income and create a shortage of fodder for livestock.
The losses follow a difficult kharif season. Although the season began late, early rainfall had initially supported healthy crop growth. A later dry spell during the grain-filling stage meant that some crops did not develop adequate grains. Farmers who had access to irrigation tried to sustain their fields in the hope of securing food and income for the year, but the latest heavy rain has damaged crops just before or during harvest.
The rainfall has also exposed local drainage problems in the Chakan area, where water accumulated on major roads because of inadequate arrangements for carrying runoff away. The resulting waterlogging disrupted traffic, linking the agricultural damage to a wider rural-urban infrastructure concern in a region where farms, industrial areas and busy transport routes operate close to one another.
The report did not provide a district-wide assessment of the total cropped area or the final value of losses. The immediate developments to watch are further crop assessments, the condition of harvested rice, disease levels in grape orchards and the progress of rabi sowing across the affected talukas.
