Maharashtra Seeks ₹31,000 Crore Central Aid to Support Farmers Affected by Drought

The Maharashtra government has requested approximately ₹31,000 crore in financial assistance from the Central Government to support farmers facing heavy crop losses due to drought conditions across the state. The proposed relief package aims to provide financial support to affected farmers and help them manage agricultural losses.

The state government is also preparing to seek additional funds to help farmers continue agricultural activities during the upcoming Rabi sowing season.

Crop Loss Assessment Covers 37,496 Villages Across Maharashtra

The financial assistance proposal was submitted after the state completed a detailed assessment of agricultural losses in drought-affected areas.

According to the assessment, crop damage was recorded across 37,496 villages in 304 drought-affected talukas. Out of the total 16.6 million hectares of cultivated land in these areas, crops spread across approximately 14.15 million hectares suffered losses exceeding 33%.

Last month, the Maharashtra government officially declared drought in 304 of the state's 358 talukas after reviewing ground conditions and evaluating the impact on agricultural activities.

An official from the state's Relief and Rehabilitation Department confirmed that the crop-loss assessment was necessary before submitting the financial assistance request to the Centre. Following the completion of the survey, the government submitted its proposal seeking approximately ₹31,000 crore in relief funding.

How Much Compensation Will Drought-Affected Farmers Receive?

Under existing government relief guidelines, farmers whose crops suffer damage of 33% or more are eligible for financial assistance. The compensation amount varies depending on the type of agricultural land and crops affected.

The prescribed compensation rates are:

• Rain-fed agricultural land: ₹8,500 per hectare.
• Assured irrigated agricultural land: ₹17,000 per hectare.
• Perennial crops: ₹22,500 per hectare.

These financial assistance provisions are intended to provide immediate relief to farmers dealing with significant agricultural losses.

Maharashtra Begins ₹5,000 Advance Relief for Farmers

Along with seeking financial support from the Centre, the Maharashtra government has started providing advance assistance of ₹5,000 to eligible farmers across the 304 drought-affected talukas.

The state aims to transfer the amount directly into farmers' bank accounts before Diwali to help them manage immediate financial difficulties.

Earlier this week, the state cabinet approved the advance payment plan, which is expected to benefit approximately 15 million farmers. The government also set October 31 as the deadline for submitting its larger financial assistance proposal to the Centre.

Vinita Ved Singal, Additional Chief Secretary of the Relief and Rehabilitation Department, confirmed that the proposal had been submitted to the Central Government but did not disclose further details.

Additional Financial Support Planned for the Rabi Season

The Maharashtra government is also planning to request additional financial assistance to help farmers prepare for the upcoming Rabi cropping season.

Continuing drought conditions could affect farmers' ability to arrange seeds, fertilizers, irrigation facilities, and other essential agricultural inputs for the next sowing cycle.

The proposed additional support is expected to help farmers continue farming activities despite the challenges caused by insufficient rainfall and crop damage.

With the ₹31,000 crore assistance request and advance payments already underway, the state government is seeking financial support at both the immediate relief and next-season preparation stages to help drought-affected farming communities recover.