25 September,2026 01:47 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Shiv Sena (UBT) has urged the Maharashtra government to declare drought and provide immediate relief to affected farmers. File pic
The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has urged the Maharashtra government to declare an immediate drought emergency, alleging that large parts of the state are facing severe crop losses due to prolonged dry conditions during the monsoon.
In an editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana, the Thackeray camp called on the government to bypass bureaucratic procedures and open the state treasury to provide immediate relief to affected farmers.
The editorial said areas in Solapur, Ahilyanagar, Marathwada and Western Vidarbha have gone weeks without rainfall, with some regions reportedly receiving no rain for nearly two months.
It said crops including soybean, cotton, tur, moong, urad, sorghum and maize have dried up. According to the editorial, even farmers with wells or irrigation facilities could face yield losses of 50 per cent to 70 per cent, while dryland farmers dependent entirely on rainfall have suffered complete crop losses.
The party also warned that the situation could affect both the Kharif and upcoming Rabi seasons, as wells, ponds and borewells have begun drying up before the monsoon has ended.
The editorial criticised the state government for delaying a formal drought declaration and compared Maharashtra's response with neighbouring Karnataka, which it said had already declared drought and begun relief measures.
"Though the Chief Minister and government officials have recently begun visiting farm boundaries to assess the ground reality, formal surveys, spot inspections (panchnamas), and ministerial review meetings should not delay immediate relief," remarked the Thackeray camp.
The editorial also highlighted difficulties faced by farmers in agricultural markets, citing the example of a farmer from Sailu taluka in Parbhani district. It said Jeevan Kawade received only Rs 1,017 for four quintals of chilli, despite spending Rs 2,000 on harvesting labour alone.
The party urged state leaders to visit APMCs and take action against middlemen accused of exploiting farmers during the crisis.
"The government must throw open the state treasury and waive rigid rules and technical criteria to keep Maharashtra's farmers alive. Having witnessed the grief on the ground firsthand, the prompt question remains --will the government act before it is too late?" asked the editorial.
(With inputs from IANS)
