Vidarbha receives first showers of monsoon

Akola (Maharashtra), June 30 (ANI): People in the drought-prone Vidarbha region of Maharashtra welcomed the first showers of monsoon, ushering relief particularly among the farmers.

To the delight of the farmers who earlier were pretty apprehensive about the delayed monsoon this year, Akola district received ample rainfall on Monday.

On their part, the agriculturists in the district said that because of delayed monsoon, they had planned to grow a variety of alternate crops in place of the main cash crop which is cotton.

"Fortunately, the rains have arrived. We have diversified and sowed soya bean and split bean (moong). We are likely to grow less cotton this year," said Gangaram Karavate, a farmer.

A drought-like situation had been recurring in Vidarbha forcing many farmers to commit suicide in the past.

The four-month (June-September) monsoon is the main source of water for irrigation in the country.

Ample rainfall helps agricultural output, which contributes a fifth of the country's gross domestic product. (ANI)