26 September,2026 10:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis (File pic)
The Maharashtra government has declared 265 talukas across the state as drought-affected. The Chief Minister (CM) has also announced a package of 12 measures and concessions aimed at providing relief to farmers, agricultural labourers, students, livestock owners and other citizens facing the impact of deficient rainfall.
CM Fadnavis said that farmers, agricultural labourers and other vulnerable sections would remain at the centre of the government's drought-relief efforts.
Fadnavis also directed district collectors of the drought-affected districts to immediately begin conducting panchnamas to assess the ground situation in the affected talukas.
This decision was taken after the State Agriculture Commissioner reviewed the Kharif 2026 season and reported drought conditions in 265 talukas. The assessment will be carried out under Trigger-1 of the Drought Management Code, 2016, based on rainfall deficiency and other factors from June 2026 until now.
During the survey, officials will record the condition of crops through photographs and GPS coordinates. The government has directed the Revenue Department, Agriculture Department and other concerned agencies to coordinate the exercise and prioritise the assessment of farmers' losses.
The relief measures announced by the government are listed below:
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis recently visited drought-affected areas and interacted with farmers to assess the situation. The government said the decision to declare drought in the 265 talukas followed this review and the Agriculture Commissioner's assessment.
Eknath Shinde while expressing support to the farmers across Maharashtra said, "Mahayuti government has stood firmly by the side of farmers in every time of crisis. Even now, while assuring that farmers will remain our priority in the drought situation, we are keeping our promise and will not let farmers have a black Diwali, saying that we have declared a drought in 265 talukas and announced measures and special concessions for it."
Shinde further added, "for the last two to three days, along with the Chief Minister, we have been visiting the dams of the cooperative farmers in the cabinet and understanding their problems. A detailed review of the situation in the state was conducted by the officials of the Agriculture and Revenue Departments. Yesterday, I also discussed this with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis."
Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane said the decision covered 265 of the state's 358 talukas for Kharif 2026 after Trigger 1 was applied, and that relief under the Drought Management Code would now be implemented there.
"It is extremely painful to see a standing crop slip away before a farmer's eyes. That is why the aid must actually reach the farmer," Bharane said. He thanked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar for taking the decision in farmers' interest.
Bharane directed officials to complete crop-loss panchnamas accurately and transparently, carry out crop-cutting experiments on a priority basis, and ensure that farmers get the benefit of crop insurance and other government schemes.
The 265 talukas where Trigger-1 has been implemented are spread across six revenue divisions.
The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division has the highest number with 74 talukas, followed by Amravati with 56, Nashik with 49, Nagpur with 39, Pune with 35 and Thane with 12.
The 12 talukas under the Thane revenue division include Shrivardhan in Raigad; Ratnagiri, Sangameshwar and Rajapur in Ratnagiri; and Sawantwadi, Dodamarg, Kankavali, Kudal, Vaibhavwadi, Malvan, Devgad and Vengurla in Sindhudurg. No taluka from the Thane or Palghar districts has been included.
The Nashik division covers 49 talukas across Nashik, Dhule, Jalgaon, Nandurbar and Ahilyanagar districts, while 35 talukas in Pune, Solapur, Sangli, Satara and Kolhapur districts are covered under the Pune division.
The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division includes 74 talukas from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Nanded, Parbhani and Hingoli districts.
The Amravati division covers 56 talukas in Buldhana, Amravati, Akola, Washim and Yavatmal districts. The Nagpur division includes 39 talukas across Wardha, Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts.
While issuing a statement, the government said that the financial assistance for crop damage will be announced through a separate government resolution after the prescribed assessment process is completed.
The administration has therefore been instructed to give priority to conducting panchnamas and accurately documenting crop conditions in the affected areas.
The government said the drought-relief measures are intended to ensure timely support for farmers, students, agricultural labourers, livestock and the wider population affected by the drought situation.
Bharane also said direct help for crop loss would be declared only after the prescribed procedure was completed, and asked district administrations to treat panchnamas, crop-condition photographs and GPS registration as urgent.
