Severe water shortage hits farmers in Nandurbar's akrale; farmers forced to buy water tankers to save chilli crops

Nandurbar, Nov 13 (UNI) Farmers in the Akrale area of eastern Nandurbar taluka are facing a severe water crisis as groundwater levels have dropped drastically, leaving wells and borewells almost dry. With prolonged gaps in rainfall reducing groundwater reserves, farmers are struggling to sustain their crops. Those who have invested heavily in chilli cultivation, including expensive saplings, fertilisers and drip irrigation systems, are now forced to purchase water through tankers to save their crops. Farmers are spending Rs1,000 per tanker and pumping the purchased water into their wells before using motors to irrigate their fields. The rising irrigation costs have…