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Maharashtra Disburses ₹129 Crore Rain Relief, Assesses 2026 Crop Damage

The Maharashtra government has disbursed ₹128.65 crore in aid to farmers affected by unseasonal rains in late 2025. Damage assessments are now underway for more recent unseasonal weather in early 2026, which has impacted over 2.33 lakh farmers. The state cabinet reviewed preliminary data showing extensive damage to key crops like bananas, onions, and grapes. Concurrently, the government highlighted progress on major irrigation projects aimed at boosting long-term agricultural resilience.

Key Points: Maharashtra Rain Relief: ₹129 Crore Aid for Farmers, New Damage Assessed

  • ₹128.65 crore disbursed for 2025 crop damage
  • Assessment ongoing for 2026 unseasonal rains
  • Aid for over 1.8 lakh farmers across 7 districts
  • 225 irrigation projects worth ₹4.35 lakh crore approved
2 min read

Maha govt disburses Rs 128.65 crore for unseasonal rain relief, assessment for recent damage underway

Maharashtra govt disburses ₹128.65 crore to farmers for 2025 unseasonal rain damage. Assessment for 2026 crop losses is now underway.

"Once these projects are finalised, the state expects to create a total irrigation capacity of 33.45 lakh hectares, - government statement"

Mumbai, April 7

The Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, said on Tuesday that Rs 128.65 crore has been disbursed to farmers affected by unseasonal rains in the state.

The aid targets losses incurred between October and December 2025.

The state government has also confirmed that damage assessments (panchnamas) for the more recent spells of unseasonal weather in early 2026 are currently in progress.

The unseasonal rainfall during the final quarter of 2025 caused widespread agricultural distress.

The state government will provide aid to 1,80,574 farmers for the 1,14,752 hectares of agricultural land affected due to unseasonal rains in Chandrapur, Dhule, Gadchiroli, Jalgaon, Nashik, Raigad, and Sindhudurg districts.

The state has faced continuous weather challenges since the start of the new year.

The state Cabinet reviewed the preliminary data for the unseasonal rains occurring between January and April 2026.

More than 1.45 lakh hectares were affected, impacting 2.33 lakh farmers.

Major crops damaged include bananas, onions, papayas, mangoes, grapes, wheat, gram, and jowar.

According to the preliminary assessment by the state government due to unseasonal rains and hailstorm in April this year, 1.94 lakh farmers have already faced losses across 1.22 lakh hectares.

Around five fatalities and nine injuries were reported due to the weather. Additionally, 36 livestock deaths occurred.

The state government has fast-tracked the panchnama process for these months to ensure timely assistance.

The State Water Resources Department also presented a progress report during the session, highlighting massive infrastructure growth since July 2022.

Around 41 projects have been completed, creating a storage capacity of 105 TMC and adding 2.95 lakh hectares to the state's irrigation potential.

Since July 2022, administrative and revised approvals have been granted to 225 projects worth Rs 4.35 lakh crore.

"Once these projects are finalised, the state expects to create a total irrigation capacity of 33.45 lakh hectares," the government statement said.

The state government remains committed to supporting the agricultural sector through both immediate disaster relief and long-term irrigation infrastructure, the statement added.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Shreya B
Rs 128 crore sounds like a lot, but divided among 1.8 lakh farmers? That's barely Rs 7,000 per farmer on average. How does that cover the loss of an entire season's harvest? The focus on long-term irrigation projects is welcome, but the immediate relief seems symbolic.
A
Arjun K
The infrastructure numbers are impressive – 105 TMC storage is no joke! This is the kind of long-term vision we need. Climate change is making unseasonal rains the new normal. Building resilience through irrigation is smarter than just writing cheques after every disaster. 👍
P
Priya S
Heart goes out to the families who lost loved ones and livestock. Five lives lost is five too many. The government must also invest in better weather forecasting and early warning systems for villages. Compensation after death is not enough.
M
Michael C
As someone working in agricultural development, I see both sides. The bureaucratic delay between damage (Oct-Dec 2025) and aid disbursement now is problematic. However, fast-tracking the 2026 assessment is a positive step. The key is transparency in the panchnama process.
K
Kavya N
Onions and grapes damaged again! This will hit market prices soon. The aid is needed, but can we also promote crop insurance more aggressively? So many small farmers are still not covered. "Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana" needs better on-ground awareness.

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