Maharashtra Farmers Face Severe Crop Losses, Aid Promised Before Diwali

Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne announced on Wednesday that the unprecedented September rainfall has caused more severe damage to crops than earlier downpours, particularly in the Marathwada region. Addressing reporters, Bharne promised that financial aid would be disbursed to affected farmers before Diwali, offering a lifeline to those grappling with significant losses.

The relentless rains have battered the typically arid Marathwada region, claiming eight lives, damaging homes, and destroying crops across vast swathes of farmland. Nanded district has been hit hardest, with widespread crop devastation reported. “The September rains have inflicted greater losses than earlier periods. We’re conducting crop loss surveys on a war footing with the revenue and agriculture departments to assess the damage,” Bharne stated.

The minister acknowledged the growing demand for declaring a “wet drought” in severely affected areas like Jalgaon and parts of Marathwada, a call echoed by state minister Gulabrao Patil on Tuesday. “There’s nothing wrong with this demand, as farmers are in deep distress. However, the final decision rests with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the deputy chief ministers, considering the central government’s criteria,” Bharne explained. He emphasized that the state’s immediate priority is to deliver aid to farmers as quickly as possible.

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The government has already begun transferring financial assistance to farmers for losses incurred before July, with Rs 2,215 crore allocated for 31.64 lakh affected farmers. However, Bharne noted that the damage from September rains, affecting approximately 30 lakh hectares of farmland, is far more extensive, and the aid package for this period is expected to exceed previous allocations. “The crop loss surveys are nearing completion, and we’re committed to depositing aid directly into farmers’ bank accounts before Diwali,” he assured.

In a significant move to ease farmers’ financial burdens, Bharne announced that banks would be instructed to halt loan recovery in rain-affected areas. “We’ll ensure that loan recovery is paused in regions hit by these losses, and necessary directives will be issued to banks,” he said.

The devastating rains have compounded the challenges faced by Maharashtra’s farmers, already reeling from erratic weather patterns. As the state races to complete damage assessments and deliver aid, the promise of pre-Diwali relief offers hope to farmers struggling to recover. However, with the scale of destruction becoming clearer, the government faces mounting pressure to ensure that the aid is both timely and adequate to address the crisis.

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