The Maharashtra government announced a Rs. 31,628 crore relief package for farmers affected by heavy downpours and floods across the State on Tuesday (October 7, 2025). Under this, farmers with dry land will receive ₹18,500 per hectare for crop damage, while those with hangami bagayati (seasonal irrigated land) will get ₹27,000 per hectare, and those with bagayatu (fully irrigated land) will receive compensation of ₹32,500 per hectare.
Following the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “29 (out of 36) districts of Maharashtra, covering 253 (out of 358) talukas and over 2000 revenue circles were affected by extreme rains. The package is designed to provide relief to everyone affected by the floods.”
Due to rain, the fertile land was washed away, animals drowned, people lost their lives, and their homes were damaged. The state government’s package includes aid for crop and animal losses, ex gratia for next-of-kin, and compensation for damaged homes, shops, and sheds. Along with ₹47000 per hectare cash compensation to the farmers, whose farmland was washed away, ₹3 lakhs will be paid through the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA). Farmers will receive an additional ₹10,000 per hectare as support for the upcoming Rabi season, houses reconstructed under PM Awas Yojana, ₹30,000 for the cleaning of one well, and ₹32,000 per milking animal.
Calling the package a step to help farmers stand back on their feet, Mr. Fadnavis stated, “No one can provide 100% compensation to farmers’ financial and mental crisis. However, to strengthen the farmer, we have curated a package that will be distributed before Diwali.”
After the floods, the farmers demanded that the government declare “wet drought” and provide aid of ₹50,000 per hectare for farmers. If the wet drought is declared, it means farmers can seek relaxation on loan instalments, avail subsidies on inputs for the next cropping season, insurance claims, livelihood support, waiver from school fees, and more. However, the government did not announce wet drought and instead, Mr. Fadnavis, reiterated that the regulations applicable during a drought will be implemented for flood-hit people and farmers.
Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar also highlighted that the “focal point” is on the farmer, rules and regulations have been kept aside while declaring the package.
Relief from Centre
Mr. Shinde said, “This is the first time that such a huge package is announced; this surpasses similar relief measures of states such as Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. “We are not seeing how huge the package is, but focusing on the needs of farmers,” said Mr. Shinde, appealing to farmers not to take extreme steps.
He also mentioned submitting a detailed report on the calamity to Union Minister Amit Shah and urged for the relief. The Maharashtra government is yet to send the formal report on floods to the centre. Later, plans to receive the reimbursement from the Centre.
At least 45 lakhs insured farmers will receive an additional ₹17,000 under the crop insurance. Mr. Fadnavis said, “BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to hold a meeting with the insurance company and put pressure. In due time, he asked me to initiate the claim processes.”
Meanwhile, the Opposition criticised the government for not announcing a loan waiver and a relief package as expected by farmers. Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar called the package numbers “an insult” to farmers and cited that 781 farmers committed suicide in the last nine months, alone 74 in the last 15 days. “When a farmer is in crisis, it is expected that the government should have announced uniform compensation of ₹50000/- per hectare,” said Mr. Wadettiwar, asking what happened to the loan waiver promised before the Assembly election.
While speaking to the media, Mr. Fadnavis dismissed claims of Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray about past waivers, saying that it was during his term that loan was waived off and the new waiver scheme will be considered in due course.
Published – October 08, 2025 12:46 am IST
