Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, told the state Assembly that the Mahayuti government's agricultural agenda is anchored in financial relief, technology adoption, and legal protections for farmers — with the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana standing out as the largest farm loan waiver in Maharashtra's history, covering 56.24 lakh farmers and disbursing ₹36,585 crore. The minister was responding to a debate under Rule 293 in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

Historic Loan Waiver Scheme

Under the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana, farmers with total outstanding debt — including interest — of up to ₹2 lakh will receive a full waiver. Those with dues exceeding ₹2 lakh will receive a ₹2 lakh waiver after clearing the remaining balance. Additionally, a ₹50,000 incentive bonus will be extended to farmers who regularly repaid their crop loans in any two of the last three years.

Minister Bharane placed the scheme in historical context, noting it far exceeds earlier waivers: the 2009 scheme (₹4,008 crore), the 2017 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj scheme (₹24,737 crore), and the 2019 Mahatma Jyotirao Phule scheme (₹25,749 crore). He also disclosed that the government has decided to extend relief to 12.71 lakh farmers left pending under the Maha Vikas Aghadi-era Mahatma Jotirao Phule Loan Waiver Scheme of 2019, with the Chief Minister expected to formally announce the decision shortly.

Kharif 2026 Drought Preparedness

Acknowledging the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast of below-average rainfall for the Kharif 2026 season due to El Niño, the minister outlined a multi-pronged mitigation strategy. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviewed the state's preparedness on 23 June. Farmers have been urged not to rush into sowing until adequate and sustained rainfall is received.

State workshops have been organised with ICAR and CRIDA to promote Broad Bed Furrow (BBF) sowing methods, with government subsidies earmarked for BBF equipment. Short-duration, drought-tolerant seed varieties are being distributed, and over 2,000 farm ponds have been dug over the past two years. Micro-irrigation and mulching are receiving increased emphasis.

Krishi Samriddhi Yojana and Farmer Insurance

To boost capital investment, the government has launched the Krishi Samriddhi Yojana with a total outlay of ₹5,000 crore. For 2026–27, ₹2,000 crore has been earmarked, with the remaining ₹3,000 crore to be raised through supplementary demands. The scheme will fund agricultural drones for fertiliser and pesticide application, village-level Farmer Service Centres, and the organic farming campaign 'Aaple Shet, Aaple Khat'.

The Gopinath Munde Shetkari Apghat Sanugraha Anudan Yojana — which provides ₹2 lakh for accidental death and ₹1 lakh for permanent disability — has been expanded to include farm labourers, responding to a long-standing legislative demand. The government is also reportedly considering adding heatwave-related deaths to the list of eligible compensations. The application process has been shifted entirely online via the MahaDBT portal.

Under the CM Baliraja Free Electricity Scheme, 44.06 lakh farmers are receiving free power for agricultural pumps up to 7.5 HP, backed by a state subsidy of ₹28,357 crore over the last two years.

Technology and Quality Control

The minister said 40 lakh farmers are currently using the Mahavistar AI app, which features an AI-powered chatbot providing real-time advice on weather and crop management, and an automated push-telephony system that has delivered 1.56 crore successful advisory calls to date.

Under Phase 2 of the World Bank-assisted Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjivani Project — covering 7,201 villages with a ₹6,000 crore investment — Maharashtra has become the first state in India to deploy the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)'s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), enabling resource-poor farmers to purchase equipment by paying only their personal share upfront.

On quality enforcement, the government has banned the practice of 'linking' — forcing farmers to purchase unapproved micro-nutrients or bio-fertilisers alongside subsidised fertilisers. Since 1 April 2026, 874 inspectors and 44 flying squads have inspected 69,652 input sellers, seized 970 metric tonnes of agricultural inputs, suspended 1,088 licences, cancelled 220 licences, and registered 94 police cases. Farmers can report grievances via toll-free number 1800-233-4000 or WhatsApp at 9822446655.

Women Farmers Bill and Opposition Walkout

Aligning with the United Nations declaration of 2026 as the 'International Year of Women Farmers,' the government announced its intention to table the Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Bill in the current legislative session to secure the legal and economic rights of women engaged in agriculture — a group the government acknowledges contributes the highest share of physical farm labour.

The Opposition, however, staged a walkout during the minister's reply, alleging that concerns raised during the debate were not addressed seriously. The government is expected to table the women farmers bill and formalise the pending MVA-era loan waiver relief in the coming days.