Synopsis
Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar announced a significant budget allocation for agriculture, including AI technology implementation to benefit farmers and enhance productivity. This ambitious initiative aims to strengthen the agricultural sector and improve rural livelihoods.Key Takeaways
- Rs 9,710 crore allocated for agriculture.
- Implementation of AI technology to aid 50,000 farmers.
- Major river linking projects to enhance irrigation.
- Free electricity for 45 lakh agricultural pumps.
- New schemes for rural transformation and sustainable agriculture.
Mumbai, March 10 (NationPress) The Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar, revealed in the annual budget for 2025-26 a proposal to allocate Rs 9,710 crore to the agriculture sector, Rs 4,247 crore for soil and water conservation, Rs 708 crore for horticulture, Rs 390 crore for animal husbandry, and Rs 5 crore for dairy.
The agriculture sector has emerged as a bright spot in 2024-25, registering a growth of 8.7 percent compared to 3.2 percent the previous year, even as growth rates in industrial and services sectors have declined.
The finance minister announced that approximately 50,000 farmers will benefit from the implementation of Artificial Intelligence technology across over one lakh acres of land in the initial phase, with a budget allocation of Rs 500 crore over two years.
The government has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for 38 lift hydroelectric projects, attracting investments of Rs 2.95 lakh crore and generating 90,000 jobs. Under the Mukhyamantri Baliraja Mofat Veej Yojna, 45 lakh agricultural pumps of up to 7.5 HP will receive free electricity.
The ambitious Rs 88,574 crore Wainganga-Nalganga river linking project has received initial approval and aims to benefit 371,277 hectares.
The Nar-Par-Girna river linking project, estimated to cost Rs 7,500 crore, will benefit 49,516 hectares in the Nashik and Jalgaon districts.
The Damanganga-Ekdare-Godavari river linking project, valued at Rs 2,300 crore, will provide 3.55 TMC of water. The Tapi Mega Recharge irrigation project, costing Rs 19,300 crore, aims to assist farmers in the saline regions of North Maharashtra and Western Vidarbha.
A project to redirect 54.70 TMC of water from the Ulhas and Vaitarna river basins in Konkan to the Godavari basin will provide irrigation for around 240,000 hectares in the water-scarce Marathwada region.
The government has approved a 200 MW solar power project costing Rs 1,594 crore at the Mhaisal Lift Irrigation Scheme in Sangli district. The Gosikhurd National Project has created 12,332 hectares of irrigation capacity by December 2024 and is projected to be completed by June 2026.
The Maharashtra Irrigation Improvement Programme, costing Rs 5,036 crore, has been sanctioned to enhance the canal distribution system. Under the Jalyukt Shivar Campaign 2.0, a total of 148,888 works costing Rs 4,227 crore will be executed in 5,818 villages, with all projects set for completion by March 2026.
The government has solidified plans for a Rs 4,300 crore bamboo plantation project to promote bamboo-related industries. Additionally, Rs 2,100 crore has been allocated for the Balasaheb Thackeray Agricultural Business and Rural Transformation (SMART) scheme.
A proposal for the Maharashtra Agribusiness Network - Magnet 2.0 project, valued at Rs 2,100 crore, aims to develop a hub for sustainable, high-value agricultural enterprises.
The Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojna 2.0 will be implemented across 27 districts to ensure a reliable daytime power supply for farmers. A new initiative, Baliraja Farm and Pandan Road, is being launched for the transportation of seeds, equipment, fertilizers, and agricultural produce.
