Statistical analysis of drought impact on agricultural sector in Latur district, Maharashtra

Abstract

The agricultural sector is the backbone of Indian economy, contributing a significant share of the country’s GDP. Last few decades agriculture losses have grown due to irregularity in monsoon and change in climatic conditions over Indian sub-continent. Drought is a global phenomenon. It mainly affects on agricultural and allied sector activities. Agriculture plays a substantial role in the development of rural economies in the development of countries, where agriculture largely depends on rainfall. The Latur district in Maharashtra has faced recurring droughts over the past decade, severely affecting its agrarian economy. The purpose of the present study is to statistically analyze the influence of drought on the agricultural sector in Latur from 2010 to 2025. The region of Latur had an enormous impact on all the sectors, especially on the agriculture sector. So, it is necessary to evaluate the socio-economic effects of drought on farming communities. So, keeping this objective in mind the study has been carried out. The rainfall, farmer suicide cases, distribution of social impacts among drought-affected families, and the trend of school dropout rates have been critically examined using standard statistical measures. This study provides evidence-based insights to support policy planning aimed at climate resilience in agriculture.