Pune: Indapur farmer Girish Shende (36) had sent 200 boxes of dragon fruit grown on his farm to Abu Dhabi in mid-August through the integrated cargo facility at Pune airport. Just when he started nursing the dream of big-time fruit export from his 20-acre farm at Varkute Khurd village, around 138km from the city, drought played the spoilsport.“A canal brings water to the village from Bhatghar dam. Earlier, we needed the canal water only in Jan and Feb. This time, we are already using it. We are even facing a drinking water problem. How can I think of sending another consignment abroad under these circumstances?” Shende told TOI.Farming for 12 years, Shende has guava, pomegranate and dragon fruit plantations. He had hoped to harvest at least 10 tonnes of dragon fruit per acre, but the prolonged dry spell has forced him to drastically revise his expectations.“I doubt if I will get even 5 tonnes per acre. If the airport or logistics companies approach me for another consignment of dragon fruits, I will have to decline. Along with fruits, we usually sow crops like maize and wheat. This year, that is almost impossible,” he said.Shende said the lack of rain after June had affected his livestock. “We haven’t even been able to produce fodder for our cattle,” he said.Maharashtra govt last week declared drought in 265 of the state’s 358 talukas following deficient monsoon rainfall affecting kharif crops.For Shende, the concern extends beyond this season. “Guava plants can survive for years and normally bear fruit for around eight months. But with no rain and these extreme conditions, I doubt if the fruits will survive even two months this time,” he said.He said the fruiting season of guava, pomegranate and dragon fruit generally runs from April to December, making the impact of the drought particularly severe. “I hope the state govt takes swift steps to help farmers in distress. I just want to hold the fort somehow so that I can again send my fruits to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and other countries from next year,” Shende said.
