Maharashtra govt to formulate policy on agricultural wages: Agriculture Minister

IANS June 18, 2025 323 views

Maharashtra's Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate announced plans to develop a wage policy for agricultural laborers to enhance productivity. The government will form an advisory committee including award-winning farmers to guide policy decisions. Reforms to crop insurance and increased mechanization support are also on the agenda. The state aims to strengthen research centers and promote natural farming for sustainable agriculture.

"All suggestions received in the interest of farmers will be considered positively and acted upon." - Manikrao Kokate
Mumbai, June 18: Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate on Wednesday said the government is set to take concrete steps to formulate a policy on agricultural wages to enhance agricultural productivity and reduce the cost of farming.

Key Points

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Maharashtra to formulate wage policy for farm laborers

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Govt to form advisory committee with award-winning farmers

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Reforms planned for crop insurance and mechanization

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Agricultural universities and research centers to be strengthened

The government is promoting agricultural mechanisation through various schemes aimed at reducing manual labour and encouraging the use of unmanned machinery. All suggestions received in the interest of farmers will be considered positively and acted upon, assured the meeting during a meeting with the Maharashtra State Association of Government Agricultural Award-Winning Farmers to discuss various issues related to agriculture.

Minister Kokate stated that the government will form an agricultural advisory committee, which will include these award-winning farmers as members. A comprehensive proposal will be submitted to determine appropriate policies for agricultural work. Reforms will also be made to the crop insurance scheme, and agricultural universities and research centres will be strengthened. The government continuously supports research into new crops and encourages natural farming to improve soil fertility and crop productivity.

He also added that suggestions regarding state and central government schemes will be seriously considered. The government is committed to implementing effective suggestions for the benefit of farmers. He said that steps will be taken to increase crop yield through new technologies and to exempt agricultural processing units from local taxes levied by Gram Panchayats.

Furthermore, the government will ensure that a representative of the association is invited to future government award distribution ceremonies and is given a seat on the dais.

Meanwhile, the Association president, Prakash Patil, said that the agriculture minister held a meeting with award-winning farmers at the Mantralaya and discussed 16 major issues related to farming in the state. The minister listened to the concerns of all farmers present and instructed the relevant officials to take appropriate action.

Reader Comments

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Rahul K.
Finally some concrete steps for our farmers! đź‘Ź The mechanisation push is much needed - my uncle in Vidarbha still does everything manually. Hope they implement this policy quickly and don't just make empty promises like previous governments.
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Priya M.
Good initiative but I'm skeptical about execution. Our farmers need immediate relief from debt, not just long-term policies. What about fixing the MSP system first? The crop insurance reforms better be substantial - last year's payout delays were unacceptable.
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Sanjay T.
Including award-winning farmers in policymaking is a masterstroke! They know ground realities better than babus in Mumbai. Natural farming focus is excellent - our soil has suffered enough from chemical overuse. Jai Maharashtra! Jai Kisan! 🌾
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Anjali P.
Tax exemption for processing units is welcome, but what about small farmers? Most can't afford to set up units. Government should establish cooperative processing centers in every taluka. Also, when will they address the water crisis affecting Marathwada farmers?
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Vikram S.
Mechanisation is good but what about job losses for farm laborers? Policy must include skill development programs to transition them to other roles. Also, unmanned machinery sounds fancy but will it work in Maharashtra's diverse terrain? Needs proper pilot testing.
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Neeta R.
As daughter of a farmer, I appreciate the focus on agricultural wages. But will this account for regional variations? Wages in Konkan can't be same as drought-prone areas. Hope they consult grassroots organizations, not just award winners who may be better off already.

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Tags:
Maharashtra agriculture policy Manikrao Kokate farm wages crop insurance agricultural mechanization