Soon after dawn, Pawar went on a tour of some of the affected areas in Baramati district and spent time with farmers to understand their challenges.
Pawar, 83, visited some of the worst-affected villages like Undawadi (KP), Supe Recepise and Rajouri and also visited a cattle camp at Jhendewadi in different parts of the district, his aides said.
Meeting farmers and their families as well as farm labourers, Pawar got a glimpse of the dire situation they are currently facing in the middle of summer, when monsoon is at least 50-60 days away.
"When farmers pointed out that they were facing an alarming shortage of drinking water, not enough water for agriculture and their cattle, as well as a shortage of fodder, Pawar Saheb listened to them patiently and understood their plight," The associate said.
The experienced Pawar, without wearing a hat or sunglasses, got a bird's eye view of some local farms and saw dry, cracked earth with not a single blade of grass visible as the scorching sun lashed the area at temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. The temperatures were scorching, and occasionally sporadic gusts of hot air would stir up clouds of dust.Later, the NCP-SP supremo addressed groups of farmers at the scenario and promised to take up the issue with the district administration.
In his address, he recalled his early days in 1965 when he took his first youthful steps in grassroots politics and witnessed the problem of drought in the area, where there was barely 6-7 inches of annual rainfall, but all the water Was flowing.
He later organized and inspired local people to take measures to conserve this water in ponds and percolation tanks to help villagers, farmers' agriculture and livestock, creating more than 300 large and small lakes.
Pawar also recalled his 10-year tenure as Union Agriculture Minister under Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, when he started with practically empty grain stocks across India, with barely six weeks' worth of food. Reserves were available, and regular imports were the norm. However, working diligently in handling the 'disreputable agriculture portfolio' by the end of his two terms, Pawar proudly stated that in 2014, India was not only self-sufficient in food grains, but also enabled exports of food grains to 18 countries. The one was surplus.He also assured to take up the issue of inadequate fodder supply for cattle with the district authorities and make arrangements for water supply through water tankers.
A veteran of Baramati politics for over 55 years, he is believed to have endeared himself to farmers with his unexpected visits and informal interactions with farmers expressing concern for their plight - its impact on voters. It did not happen because his daughter and candidate from Baramati Lok Sabha seat Supriya Sule is facing competition from her 'sister-in-law' Sunetra A. Pawar, who is the wife of Nationalist Congress Party chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit A. Pawar.
An NCP-SP leader from the state said, "Pawar Saheb's half-day visit will help achieve a lot not only for the farmers of Baramati but for the farming community of the entire state."
In fact, barely a few days ago, around 10,000 villagers in the Kharewad area of Shivajinagar, which has been grappling with water crisis for several weeks, had publicly protested with the banner of "No water, no votes" and called for boycotting the Lok Sabha elections. Had threatened.,
Pawar, 83, visited some of the worst-affected villages like Undawadi (KP), Supe Recepise and Rajouri and also visited a cattle camp at Jhendewadi in different parts of the district, his aides said.
Meeting farmers and their families as well as farm labourers, Pawar got a glimpse of the dire situation they are currently facing in the middle of summer, when monsoon is at least 50-60 days away.
"When farmers pointed out that they were facing an alarming shortage of drinking water, not enough water for agriculture and their cattle, as well as a shortage of fodder, Pawar Saheb listened to them patiently and understood their plight," The associate said.
The experienced Pawar, without wearing a hat or sunglasses, got a bird's eye view of some local farms and saw dry, cracked earth with not a single blade of grass visible as the scorching sun lashed the area at temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. The temperatures were scorching, and occasionally sporadic gusts of hot air would stir up clouds of dust.Later, the NCP-SP supremo addressed groups of farmers at the scenario and promised to take up the issue with the district administration.
In his address, he recalled his early days in 1965 when he took his first youthful steps in grassroots politics and witnessed the problem of drought in the area, where there was barely 6-7 inches of annual rainfall, but all the water Was flowing.
He later organized and inspired local people to take measures to conserve this water in ponds and percolation tanks to help villagers, farmers' agriculture and livestock, creating more than 300 large and small lakes.
Pawar also recalled his 10-year tenure as Union Agriculture Minister under Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, when he started with practically empty grain stocks across India, with barely six weeks' worth of food. Reserves were available, and regular imports were the norm. However, working diligently in handling the 'disreputable agriculture portfolio' by the end of his two terms, Pawar proudly stated that in 2014, India was not only self-sufficient in food grains, but also enabled exports of food grains to 18 countries. The one was surplus.He also assured to take up the issue of inadequate fodder supply for cattle with the district authorities and make arrangements for water supply through water tankers.
A veteran of Baramati politics for over 55 years, he is believed to have endeared himself to farmers with his unexpected visits and informal interactions with farmers expressing concern for their plight - its impact on voters. It did not happen because his daughter and candidate from Baramati Lok Sabha seat Supriya Sule is facing competition from her 'sister-in-law' Sunetra A. Pawar, who is the wife of Nationalist Congress Party chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit A. Pawar.
An NCP-SP leader from the state said, "Pawar Saheb's half-day visit will help achieve a lot not only for the farmers of Baramati but for the farming community of the entire state."
In fact, barely a few days ago, around 10,000 villagers in the Kharewad area of Shivajinagar, which has been grappling with water crisis for several weeks, had publicly protested with the banner of "No water, no votes" and called for boycotting the Lok Sabha elections. Had threatened.,
