India, Oct. 2 -- Not only are farmers in drought-hit Marathwada facing large-scale crop damage, they are also now having to contend with another crisis - dwindling fodder and water supplies - which is forcing them to sell their cattle, often at significantly lower prices. With the protracted dry spell continuing across the region, several farmers have been left with no other option but to sell their livestock for which purpose they are increasingly turning to weekly cattle markets held in different districts.

One such farmer, Gorakh Chavan, from Ghansawangi taluka in Jalna, travelled nearly 50 km in a van with one bullock to the weekly cattle market held at Parthi in Parbhani district on September 27 only to return home, the unsold anima...