A survey conducted in Maharashtra has revealed that the recent drought had an impact on nearly 90 lakh farmers. The last few years of drought have thrown the state into severe agrarian distress. Over that, Maharashtra is now the state with the highest number of suicides among farmers – many have become desperate. Earlier, even though they had a poor harvest, their crop would fetch them a substantial price in the market. But now not only is the yield low but they get little to nothing for their crops.
A new Hope for Farmers
Two young new apostolic priests made a trip to Karjat, a town located near Lonavala in Maharashtra. They visited a few of the drought-affected areas and became first-hand witnesses of the extreme conditions that the farmers and their families were living in. Many farmers invited the priests to their homes and the priests in turn gave comfort, peace and offered to pray for the household. The farmers were only too eager for divine intervention. All they wanted was to be able to drink water, which they did not have. They drank water from the same streams and lakes which animals drank from not thinking about illness but only wanting to quench their thirst. The water levels were so dangerously low that many stopped bathing.
Areas that need water desperately
Not only Karjat, Solapur, Ahmednagar, Sangli, Pune, Satara, Beed and Nashik, but also vast neighbouring areas like Latur, Osmanabad, Nanded, Aurangabad, Jalna, Jalgaon and Dhule are areas that have been devastated by drought and famine. Farmers in those areas are sharing the same if not worse plight as the farmers in Karjat. Many other members that stay in these areas are also facing similar water struggles.
Praying ceaselessly
The two young priests returned home with heavy but determined hearts. They are encouraging the members to pray regularly for farmers and their families that have been affected by the drought and famine.
We are confident that God will heed the intercessions and intervene like He did when Peter was imprisoned!