In a significant move to address the plight of farmers devastated by excessive rainfall and floods, the Maharashtra government has sanctioned Rs 3,258 crore in financial assistance for 33.65 lakh farmers across 23 affected districts, announced State Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Makarand Jadhav Patil on October 17, 2025. This allocation follows a series of measures, with the state approving a total of Rs 5,364 crore over two days to support agricultural recovery, including an earlier tranche of Rs 1,356.30 crore for 21.66 lakh farmers earlier this week.

The aid package, part of a broader Rs 31,628 crore compensation plan, offers up to Rs 48,000 per hectare for crop losses caused by September’s heavy rainfall, which ravaged 68.69 lakh hectares, particularly in Marathwada and adjacent regions. The deluge destroyed crops and livelihoods, prompting urgent calls for robust government intervention.

However, the relief measures have drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, who label the assistance “too meagre” to enable farmers to rebuild. Critics argue that the scale of the disaster—among the worst in recent years—demands far greater support to address the profound economic and emotional toll on cultivators.

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As Maharashtra grapples with the aftermath of this natural calamity, the debate over the adequacy of the aid package underscores deeper tensions over agricultural policy and disaster management. With the festive season underway, the government faces mounting pressure to bolster its support for the state’s farming community, a backbone of its economy.

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