Mumbai: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday assured that the central government will provide financial assistance to farmers in Maharashtra who have suffered extensive crop damage due to excessive rainfall. Addressing a public meeting in Pravarnagar, Ahilyanagar district, Maharashtra, Shah said that the central government stands firmly with the farming community and that compensation will be provided in a timely manner once the state government submits a formal damage assessment.
Shah said, “I held a detailed meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, both Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. On behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I assured them that once a detailed report is submitted to us, the Prime Minister will not delay in providing any assistance to the farmers of Maharashtra.”
Unveiling of statues
He further said that the Maharashtra government can submit a detailed report on crop damage as soon as possible. Shah was speaking after inaugurating the renovation of the Padmashree Dr. Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil Cooperative Sugar Factory in Pravarnagar. He also unveiled statues of Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil, a pioneer of India’s cooperative movement, and Padma Bhushan Dr. Balasaheb Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil, a former Union Minister.
Fadnavis Demands Relief Package
Heavy rains in the last week of September caused extensive damage to farmlands in Ahilyanagar, the Marathwada region, and Solapur district. Approximately 6 million hectares of agricultural land have been affected by the heavy rains and floods. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has approached the central government seeking a relief package.
Highlighting the district’s historical role in the cooperative movement, Shah said, “Maharashtra has always been known for its hardworking farmers and strong cooperative institutions. The central government will not let their hard work go to waste.”
Rain Damage to Crops
He stated that this year, unseasonal and excessive rains have damaged crops on more than 6 million hectares of land across the state. He further said, “The central government has already released ₹3,132 crore to Maharashtra under various contributions for 2025-26, including ₹1,631 crore distributed in April under the direction of Prime Minister Modi.”
Shah praised the relief measures taken by the Maharashtra government, including a ₹2,215 crore package for affected districts, direct cash assistance of ₹10,000 to each affected farmer, and distribution of 25 kg of grain to eligible families. He also commended the state’s decision to suspend loan recovery in severely affected areas.
Referring to the leadership of Fadnavis and his colleagues, Shah said, “The trinity of Maharashtra leaders—Fadnavis, Shinde, and Pawar—are not ‘baniyas’ by community, but they are second to none in terms of financial prudence. They invited me here and asked what the central government will do for distressed farmers.” We had a detailed meeting yesterday, after which I assured him of the Centre’s full support once the evaluation report is received.”
Fadnavis, Shinde, Pawar, Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol, Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Rural Development Minister Jaykumar Gore, and BJP state president Ravindra Chavan were also present at the event.
