Maharashtra chief minister announces drought relief plan as crop losses surge
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the state will issue a notification for drought-affected zones and outline relief measures, after agriculture minister Dattatray Bharane reported sharp drops in cotton and soybean output.
After convening the state cabinet, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis declared that the government will publish a notification designating drought-affected areas and detailing relief schemes for farmers. Agriculture minister Dattatray Bharane disclosed a significant contraction in cotton and soybean production, leading the agriculture department to start an early crop assessment to determine compensation for wilted crops being removed from fields.
Officials cautioned that the drought could also impact milk and poultry output and drive up prices, with some regions already facing fodder shortages. Fadnavis described widespread wilting of soyabean, cotton, maize, jowar and paddy across large parts of the state. Opposition parties are pressing for an official drought declaration, while farmer organisations have warned they may launch agitations demanding relief.
Why it matters
The drought threatens Maharashtra's agricultural output, food prices and farmer livelihoods, prompting urgent government action.
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