Maharashtra Allocates Rs 128.65 Crore for Farmers Affected by Unseasonal Rains
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Mumbai, April 7 (NationPress) The Maharashtra Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, announced on Tuesday that Rs 128.65 crore has been allocated to support farmers who have suffered due to unseasonal rainfall in the region.
This assistance addresses the losses that occurred from October to December 2025.
The government has also initiated damage assessments (panchnamas) for the more recent unseasonal weather events that affected the state in early 2026.
The unseasonal downpours during the last quarter of 2025 resulted in significant agricultural challenges.
Support will be provided to 1,80,574 farmers across 1,14,752 hectares of farmland impacted in the districts of Chandrapur, Dhule, Gadchiroli, Jalgaon, Nashik, Raigad, and Sindhudurg.
The state has been grappling with persistent weather-related issues since the beginning of the new year.
The Cabinet reviewed the initial data concerning the unseasonal rains from January to April 2026.
More than 1.45 lakh hectares have been affected, impacting 2.33 lakh farmers.
Key crops that suffered damage include bananas, onions, papayas, mangoes, grapes, wheat, gram, and jowar.
Preliminary assessments indicate that 1.94 lakh farmers have already reported losses across 1.22 lakh hectares due to the unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms in April.
The severe weather has resulted in approximately five fatalities, nine injuries, and the death of 36 livestock.
The government is expediting the panchnama process to ensure swift aid distribution.
During this session, the State Water Resources Department presented a report showcasing substantial infrastructure advancements since July 2022.
A total of 41 projects have been completed, enhancing storage capacity by 105 TMC and increasing the state's irrigation potential by 2.95 lakh hectares.
Since July 2022, approvals have been granted for 225 projects worth Rs 4.35 lakh crore.
The government anticipates that once these projects are completed, they will create an overall irrigation capacity of 33.45 lakh hectares,” the government stated.
The Maharashtra government remains dedicated to bolstering the agricultural sector through both immediate disaster relief and long-term irrigation initiatives, the statement concluded.