YAVATMAL

Yavatmal lies entirely in the drought-prone Vidarbha region of the state. The district is geographically located in the Deccan Plateau, and the climate is hot to semi-arid. The district consists of masses of hilly country broken by broad valleys and partially surrounded by plains. The chief rivers of the district are the Wardha and Pengang, both of which flow along the northeastern and southern district boundaries, respectively. The Bembla and the Nirguda are the main tributaries of the Wardha within the district, out of which only the Nirguda rises in the district. Penganga has tributaries such as Pus, Arha, Aran, Waghavi, and Kun, which all rise in the district itself. 

The district’s economy is largely dependent on agriculture, with the major crops being Cotton, Sorghum (Kharif and Rabi), Chickpea, Wheat, and Oranges. Sadly Yavatmal is regarded as one of the eight poorest districts of the state and is also known as the “suicide capital” of Maharashtra as it has been in a state of agrarian crisis for a long time.

In Yavatmal, the majority of the soils are black, which range from deep to shallow. Deep soils are better for rabi crops like cotton, jowar, and gram, whereas lighter soils are better for kharif crops like jowar, bajri, groundnut, etc.

Yavatmal's agricultural landscape has remained consistent over the years. The gazetteer described the main crops during the 19th century as jowar, wheat, rice, bajri, gram, and tur. Today, these staples, along with ragi, continue to be cultivated in the district. In addition to this, it also produces pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruits, vegetables, and fodder crops. Alongside these crops, maize and udad are being grown recently in the district.

Yavatmal’s horticulture is rich and diverse, featuring main crops such as mangoes, guavas, bananas, grapes, oranges,  onion, brinjal, bhindi, sweet potato, and cabbage. Besides these crops, soybean, custard apple, mandarin orange, ber, mulberry plantation, aonla, acid lime, and pomegranate are being recently grown according to the NABARD reports.

In addition to these horticultural offerings, cotton is widely cultivated across the district. The region also engages in sugarcane farming, further contributing to its agricultural diversity.

Tobacco and betel leaves are among the drugs and narcotics grown in the district. Tobacco is planted in Pusad, Kelapur, and Wani talukas, although betel leaves are only grown in Darwha and Pusad. Chilli, turmeric, coriander, and garlic are the most often farmed condiments and spices in the district. The chili crop is the most important.

The Kolami community is one of Wardha’s prominent indigenous groups, traditionally engaged in cotton cultivation. The Kolami have a rich cultural heritage connected to their farming practices and often face challenges related to market access and financial security. In recent years, many Kolami farmers have adopted more sustainable methods, including organic farming and intercropping, to improve resilience and productivity.

The Korku community is also part of the district’s agricultural landscape. Korku farmers mainly practiced subsistence farming, growing a mix of crops such as cotton along with traditional grains and pulses.

A few days after Akshaya Tritiya (locally called Akhti), farmers mark Sajoni, the first day of the agricultural year. This day is considered an auspicious muhurta, chosen by the village Brahmin before the start of the monsoon.

On the eve of Sajoni, families prepare mahua and gram flour cakes, fried in oil. The next morning, two men go to the field with a plow, a bundle containing some jowar, and an axe fashioned of iron, which is considered fortunate. One of them chooses two stones from the field and, after putting vermilion on them, worships them as Khat Dev, the god of manure. They also offer cooked jowar to the Devta, burn incense in front of them, and then eat the rest of the jowar. These stones, called Khat Dev, are meticulously kept and placed on the new grain heap on the threshing floor during harvest. The plowman then plows five furrows in the field to the south and five to the north.

The murtis of Khat Dev are carefully preserved and later placed on the new grain heap at the threshing floor during harvest. The ploughman then draws five furrows each to the south and north. The ploughman then draws five furrows each to the south and north. On returning home, the ploughman and his bullocks have their feet washed and vermilion applied to their foreheads. Meanwhile, the man who performed the worship goes to the mandirs in the village to apply vermilion, and gives five handfuls of jowar to the carpenter and blacksmith as a token of engagement for the coming year. No other farming work is done on this day.

Before harvesting any crop, villagers offer vermilion to local Devis and Devtas. For the cotton harvest, Devi is specially worshipped. A cotton thread cradle is tied around two or three cotton plants, beneath which seven stones are placed to represent seven gods, along with freshly picked cotton as an offering. A fire is lit and milk is boiled until it spills over, symbolising the bursting of cotton bolls.

The first cotton picking, known as wecha, is generally carried out at the beginning of November. Hindu cultivators begin on an auspicious day chosen by the Brahmin. A small ceremony is performed that venerates Sita Devi or Mohta Devi.

When new grain is brought to the threshing floor, an egg, water, and jowar grains are placed in a small pit beneath the heap. Before jowar is threshed, a bullock figure made from cow dung is shaped and worshipped.

Once the grain is threshed, a goat or chicken is sacrificed to the Devis and Devtas of the village. The meat is cooked and eaten on the threshing floor, with a share given to village servants.

While threshing or measuring grain, certain customs are followed: women apply red powder to their foreheads and avoid using lampblack around their eyes. Footwear is often removed before stepping on the threshing floor. The person measuring the grain sits facing east, and silence is maintained during measurement. Traditionally, women are not permitted on the threshing floor during this process. If measuring cannot be finished in one day, a circle of burnt chaff is drawn around the grain heap to protect it from evil spirits.

Yavatmal is historically renowned for its cotton growing, gaining the moniker "Cotton City." Cotton cultivation in Yavatmal dates back to the Mughal era. The Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century record chronicling the administration of Akbar's empire, highlights the region's agricultural activities, particularly cotton production. By the late 16th century, Yavatmal was part of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate, which was ultimately transferred to the Mughal Empire in 1596. The abundant black soil and pleasant climate made it an ideal place for cotton growing.

During British colonial rule, Yavatmal became a major cotton production center. The British recognized cotton's economic potential and built infrastructure to assist its growing and processing. During this time, various ginning and pressing plants were built, allowing the local textile industry to expand. Notably, the Raymond mill, one of India's oldest textile mills, was established about this time and played an important role in creating Yavatmal's reputation as a cotton hub.

After India attained independence in 1947, Yavatmal continued to develop as a cotton production hub. The late 1990s saw the advent of hybrid seeds, particularly Bt cotton, which revolutionized cotton cultivation in the region. Farmers were drawn to Bt-cotton because it is insect-resistant and produces larger yields. However, this move presented additional issues, such as increased reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Cotton cultivation was introduced in Yavatmal due to its geographical advantages, which included good black cotton soil and a favorable temperature. By the late nineteenth century, Yavatmal had established a flourishing cotton industry with multiple ginning and pressing plants. The building of textile mills, such as the Raymond mill, cemented Yavatmal's position as a major participant in India's textile industry. The city operated as an important commercial hub for cotton and textiles, connecting local farmers to larger markets.

Cotton remains the leading crop in Yavatmal, accounting for approximately 52% of cultivated land. However, new studies, Aparna Pallavi (2014) in her article mentions, show that over 50% of the district's soil is unsuited for cotton farming, particularly Bt-cotton cultivation. This has resulted in recommendations to diversify crops by including traditional varieties such as millet and oilseeds. The reliance on Bt-cotton has also prompted questions about sustainability and economic feasibility, owing to high input prices and fluctuations in the market.

The colonial district Gazetteer (1908) mentions that traditionally, Cotton and Tur (Pigeon Pea) were grown together in a practice locally known as ‘burola’. For every one row of tur, twelve rows of cotton are sown. In a few places, a different pattern is followed where for every one tur row about sixteen to twenty-five rows of cotton are sown.  A cotton field is thus divided into long, narrow strips of cotton with lines of tur, which is a thick bushy plant higher than the cotton. An important reason behind this is that the tur plants grow freely and can get proper air and nutrients, which they might not get if they are grown in one patch only. Though sometimes these might overshadow and dwarf the cotton plants that require direct sunlight as well.

There are various types of traditional tools used by the farmers of the district. These include wakhars (harrows), tifan (treble drill), phasati (a piece of wood tied to a tifan to cover the seed with soil), daura (a small hoe used for weeding), dhunda (a large hoe used for weeding), and lastly a khurpa (a small sickle). These tools, though rudimentary in their appearance, have helped farmers cultivate crops such as cotton, jowar, etc for years.

The introduction of Bt cotton was a huge technological advancement for Yavatmal farmers. This genetically modified crop is designed to be resistant to specific pests, particularly the cotton bollworm, which has historically posed a significant threat to cotton harvests. The use of Bt cotton has enhanced output and reduced reliance on chemical pesticides, but it has also prompted worries about market dependency and environmental implications.

Farmers in Yavatmal are increasingly using high-yielding and drought-resistant seed varieties for various crops, including soybeans and pulses. These improved seeds are designed to withstand climatic stresses and enhance overall crop productivity. Agricultural research institutions like Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth provide recommendations and guidance on suitable seed varieties based on local conditions.

While Yavatmal is mostly rainfed, there is an increasing emphasis on upgrading irrigation facilities to assist agricultural activity. Drip irrigation and sprinkler systems are being marketed as water-saving technologies, particularly during dry seasons. These approaches help preserve water and guarantee that crops receive enough moisture, resulting in higher yields.

According to NABARD’s Potential Linked credit Plan for Yavatmal (), the district has an underdeveloped agricultural infrastructure, which includes 17 Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs), 770  godowns, 1 cold storage, 5 soil testing centers, 275 farmers clubs, 15 plantation nurseries, and 1915 fertilizer, seed, and pesticide outlets. There is also one Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) supporting agricultural extension services in the region. In addition to this, there are 19 commercial banks, 1 Regional rural bank and district Central Cooperative bank, 26 branches of Vidarbha Konkan Gramin Bank, and 595 Primary Agricultural. Cooperative Societies. There are eight major dams in the Yavatmal district. Most of these dams are built across the two major rivers - Wardha and Painganga or on their tributaries.

In the absence of proper cotton procurement facilities, farmers have been compelled to sell their produce at cheaper prices to private operators rather than benefiting from government Minimum Support Prices (MSP). The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) does not have a center in some talukas, exacerbating the situation as farmers struggle to obtain competitive market pricing for their cotton. This lack of market access causes financial hardship and raises the risk of farmer suicide in the region.

Yavatmal experiences water scarcity almost every year, leading to frequent crop failures and an ongoing agrarian crisis. To address this critical issue, around 6,000 ‘farm pools’ were constructed under the ‘Farm Pool on Demand’ scheme, launched in February 2016.

According to an article published by Better India (2018), pits are dug at regular intervals to collect and store rainwater for future use. These farm pools facilitate ‘protected irrigation,’ preventing rainwater from flowing away and ensuring it remains available for use during dry periods. By providing farmers with a reliable water source, the farm pools offer the promise of improved irrigation and, as a result, better crop yields, bringing much-needed relief to the farmers of Yavatmal.

In Yavatmal, multiple APMCs assist in the sale of diverse crops. The principal APMC is in Yavatmal, with additional markets in talukas including Wani and Pusad. Local farmers rely on these markets to gain access to larger markets and obtain the government's Minimum Support Prices (MSP).

Cotton is a major crop in Yavatmal, and APMCs play an important role in its marketing. Farmers send their cotton to these marketplaces during the harvest season, where it is auctioned off to traders and ginners. The presence of APMCs helps farmers get competitive pricing for their cotton. Other important commodities are gram, soybean, groundnut pods, and pigeon pea.

In 2017-18, Maharashtra witnessed a tragic wave of pesticide poisoning cases, with Yavatmal district reporting the highest toll. Among the 63 farmers who died across 15 districts in the state, 21 were from Yavatmal alone. A report by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted in response to these deaths, revealed that 886 patients were hospitalized in Yavatmal that year due to pesticide poisoning.  In a reactive measure, the state government banned products containing diafenthiuron, among other hazardous chemicals, in 2017 to prevent further incidents. However, the ban lasted only two months.

A 2023 article by Down To Earth talks about how Cotton, being highly susceptible to sap-sucking pests, accounts for 50% of pesticide use in India. Farmers in these districts frequently report health issues stemming from pesticide exposure. For many survivors of pesticide poisoning, life has never returned to normal. The toxins left them unable to perform routine activities or physical labor, robbed some of their eyesight, and caused severe photosensitivity. Even years later, the long-term health effects continue to devastate their lives. In August 2023, media reports suggested that Yavatmal saw two more deaths suspected to be linked to pesticide poisoning.

A 2018 Public Eye investigation revealed the names of the insecticides responsible for this wave of poisonings. These included Indian-manufactured Profex Super, Police, and Monocil, the last of which contains monocrotophos, a highly hazardous active ingredient. Another was Polo, containing diafenthiuron, produced by the Swiss company Syngenta. Diafenthiuron, commercialized in 1991, was banned in the European Union in 2002 and in Switzerland in 2009 due to its hazardous nature. Though a similar much necessary ban hasn’t been put into effect in India as of 2024.

According to a 2018 article by Sekar for Mongabay-India, cotton farmers in Yavatmal district have faced a growing threat from the pink bollworm, a pest that has increasingly devastated their crops. Despite efforts to control its spread, the pest has proven resistant to management strategies, causing immense distress among farmers.

The issue is compounded by challenges associated with Bt cotton, which, while initially effective against certain pests, has led to a resurgence of secondary pests such as the mealybug. Over the past few years, the pink bollworm has emerged as a significant menace, with farmers noticing its early onset this year, heightening their alarm. This pest has further exacerbated the already complex crisis in Yavatmal, where farmers are grappling with crop losses and financial strain.

Studies conducted by the Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) in 2015 confirmed that the pink bollworm had developed resistance to pesticides, rendering chemical control methods ineffective. Alternative measures such as pheromone traps—provided to farmers at subsidized rates—and light traps designed to attract and eliminate pests have also failed to yield the desired results.

The inability to effectively combat the pink bollworm and other pests has resulted in significant crop losses, compounding the frustration and distress among Yavatmal’s cotton farmers. This ongoing struggle highlights the urgent need for more sustainable and effective pest management strategies.

Yavatmal's agriculture is mainly reliant on monsoon rains, which have become more unpredictable owing to climate change. According to the Yavatmal district’s website, Yavatmal's average annual rainfall is around 911.34 mm, but there is significant variety around the area due to geography. For example, Wani receives approximately 1,125 mm, whilst Darwha receives approximately 889 mm. Rainfall is predominantly concentrated during the southwest monsoon season, which runs from June to September and accounts for more than 75% of total annual precipitation.

Over the last few years, the district has also suffered from severe drought, which has had a negative influence on food production. Farmers have experienced issues such as insufficient moisture for crops, especially during vital growth stages. According to reports, many farmers have faced drought-related crop failures, which exacerbated their financial vulnerabilities.

A 2020 article by the Institute for Sustainable Communities mentions that as rainfall becomes less predictable, farmers rely more on groundwater for irrigation. However, this has resulted in over-extraction of groundwater resources, leading water tables to drop dramatically. Relying on tube wells and other groundwater sources threatens long-term sustainability and can lead to further agricultural issues.

Cropping patterns in Yavatmal have shifted significantly as a result of shifting climate conditions. Traditional crops such as jowar (sorghum) have had significant production declines, while drought-resistant crops such as soybean and sunflower have gained importance. This movement is influenced by market demand, but it also reflects farmers' need to adapt to changing environmental conditions.

With the construction of irrigation infrastructure, particularly tube wells and borewells, groundwater has been significantly over-extracted. Farmers have become increasingly reliant on these sources due to irregular rainfall patterns, which have resulted in rapidly diminishing groundwater levels. A farmer from Yavatmal noticed that ponds that once served as stable water sources have dried up, forcing them to rely only on groundwater, which is becoming limited.