Maharashtra government has sanctioned ₹480.5 crore in aid for farmers whose crops were devastated by floods during August and September this year. The assistance will benefit over 11 lakh cultivators across Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Amravati divisions under the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) mechanism.
According to senior government officials, around 6.7 lakh farmers in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division and 4.4 lakh in Amravati division will receive financial aid to restart agricultural operations. The funds, released as input subsidies, are meant to support the upcoming sowing season, helping cultivators recover from extensive crop losses caused by incessant rainfall and overflowing rivers. The disbursal aims to strengthen farm-level recovery and reduce the long-term economic strain in flood-affected regions. The decision follows the state’s earlier announcement of a comprehensive ₹31,628 crore relief package for nearly 60 lakh farmers whose crops were destroyed across 68.7 lakh hectares of farmland. That larger package represented one of Maharashtra’s biggest agricultural interventions in recent years. The ₹480.5 crore now released will serve as part of this continuing relief strategy, providing direct financial support to small and marginal farmers who have been the hardest hit.
Officials explained that the relief will be disbursed across the districts of Jalna, Hingoli, Akola, Buldhana, and Washim. The SDRF aid structure also covers 12 types of natural calamities, including droughts, floods, landslides, and unseasonal rains, ensuring that support reaches those affected by multiple layers of climatic adversity. “This relief is not merely financial compensation but a bridge for recovery, designed to help farmers return to self-sustaining agricultural cycles,” said a senior agriculture department official. Experts in rural policy stress that while the relief provides immediate relief, Maharashtra’s longer-term goal should focus on building climate-resilient farming systems. With rainfall patterns becoming more erratic, experts advocate investments in crop diversification, sustainable irrigation, and agro-based training that can protect livelihoods against unpredictable weather. They note that the recent floods are a reminder that short-term relief must go hand-in-hand with long-term adaptation planning.
Agricultural economists have also suggested that the state consider adopting precision weather forecasting tools and micro-insurance products for smallholders, ensuring that financial shocks are minimised in future climatic events. The combination of real-time data, crop insurance, and decentralised relief disbursement could improve the speed and efficiency of state-led responses to rural disasters. For thousands of farmers in Maharashtra’s hinterland, this financial assistance represents more than a fiscal measure—it is a step towards recovery, resilience, and dignity after months of loss. As the state faces growing climate uncertainty, initiatives like these will define how effectively it protects its rural economy while working toward equitable, sustainable growth.
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