Climate change seems to be hitting lakhs of farming families. According to government records, in the past nine years, 519 lakh hectares of farmland across the state have been damaged due to unseasonal rain between 2015 and 2024. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, too, admitted that climate change was a major reason for repeated losses, noting how even the rain-deficient Marathwada was now reeling under excess rainfall.

During his visit to affected areas in Solapur and Latur on Wednesday, in his interaction with the media, Fadnavis said, “Vatavaran badal [climate change] has made a lot of difference.” According to a rough estimate, around 30 lakh hectares of agricultural land have been lost.