Government to assess crop damage at mandal level, cover losses outside drought list: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday (September 29, 2026) announced that crop damage assessment will be extended to the mandal (circle) level to ensure financial assistance to farmers in areas excluded from the prescribed drought criteria.

Addressing reporters after a cabinet meeting, Mr. Fadnavis said special provisions were approved to ensure farmers suffering genuine crop losses receive government aid even if their regions fail to meet standard prescribed drought thresholds.

As many as 265 of Maharashtra's 358 talukas, constituting around 74% of the State, have been declared drought-affected. The government has said crop-loss assessments will determine the financial assistance to affected farmers.

Mr. Fadnavis said several ministers had raised the issue in the State cabinet that crops were damaged in certain areas that did not meet the prescribed criteria, and demanded financial assistance for farmers from these regions.