Why has Maharashtra declared drought in 265 talukas and what do farmers get? | Explained

Maharashtra has declared drought in 265 of its 358 talukas. From June 1 to September 26, the State received 798.2 mm of rain against an average of 970.9 mm, a deficit of 18%. Farmers, agricultural labourers and students in these talukas become eligible for twelve measures without a separate application. Payment for crop losses will come through another resolution after surveys end. The opposition has sought that drought be declared in several other affected talukas too, and relief be given before Diwali.

On September 26, the government issued a resolution under the Drought Management Code, 2016, covering 265 talukas in 32 districts. The Agriculture Commissioner had reviewed the kharif 2026 season and reported rainfall shortfalls since June. Trigger-1 of the Code is now in force. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has told District Collectors to begin panchnamas at once. Ninety-three talukas are outside the list.

What is the Drought Management Code, and what is Trigger-1?

The Drought Management Code, 2016, is the State’s set of rules for assessing drought and deciding on relief. The government issues its resolution under this Code, and the measures and concessions follow from it.

Trigger-1 is the first alert stage of the Code. It is based on rainfall deficiency and other factors, and one test is a dry spell of at least 21 days during the monsoon without rain of note. Once Trigger-1 applies in a taluka, District Collectors begin panchnamas, which are field surveys that record crop conditions with photographs and GPS coordinates. The report goes to the government through the Commissioner of Agriculture. Assistance for crop losses is announced only after this procedure ends.

Why has drought been declared in Maharashtra?

The declaration comes as the monsoon nears its end, with a shortfall in rainfall. Only five districts have recorded rain at or above the average for the period.

Marathwada shows the largest gap. The eight districts there together have a deficit of 38%, ranging from 16% in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to 48% in Hingoli. In Vidarbha, the average deficit across 11 districts is 27%, with the shortfall ranging from 26% in Yavatmal to 42% in Amravati.

The decision follows the Agriculture Commissioner’s report, which found conditions of drought from June onwards in 265 talukas, based on rainfall deficiency and other factors. Trigger-1 applies in these areas. One test under the assessment process is a dry spell of at least 21 days during the monsoon without rain of note.

What do farmers receive now?

Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne said the concessions apply automatically after the notification and that more will follow. The 12 measures begin with financial relief. Land revenue is exempted, crop loans are restructured, and recovery of agriculture-related loans is deferred. Electricity bills for pumps above 7.5 horsepower receive a concession, while bills for pumps up to 7.5 horsepower were waived earlier. Examination fees are waived for school and college students.

The second set covers work, water and supplies. Norms under the Employment Guarantee Scheme are relaxed, and the maximum number of works is to be begun. Tankers will supply drinking water where required. Electricity to irrigation pumps will not be disconnected in villages declared to face scarcity. Foodgrains will reach farmers and labourers who depend on agriculture, and fodder will be made available for livestock. The government will also start water conservation works and plan drinking water for people and animals under earlier resolutions.

When will compensation for crop losses come?

The resolution says assistance for crop losses will be announced separately, after the procedure under the Code is complete. Mr. Fadnavis said help for the 265 talukas will come at once. The government has said the survey will fix the amount and reach of that assistance, so the panchnamas decide what farmers receive.

What will the survey record?

Officials will photograph crops in areas under survey and record GPS coordinates. A report on crop conditions goes to the government through the Commissioner of Agriculture. Mr. Fadnavis told the Revenue and Agriculture Departments to coordinate in the field and give the work priority. He visited farms in several districts before the resolution was issued and had said a decision would follow.

What has the Opposition demanded?

The Opposition has asked that talukas left out of the list of 265 be added. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar pointed to Brahmapuri taluka in Chandrapur district, where crops were damaged. Shiv Sena (Thackeray) leader Bhaskar Jadhav said Konkan was treated poorly despite insufficient rainfall and damage to paddy and Kharif crops.

Members of the ruling side have raised exclusions too.

NCP SP leader Sharad Pawar has demanded that drought be declared in every taluka, a session of the legislature be held for three days on the subject, and relief be granted before Diwali. He has also sought financial relief, waiver of loans to women’s self-help groups and for farm-related loans, electricity bill waivers for pumps, compensation of ₹1 lakh per hectare for farmers and ₹25,000 for labourers.

Mr. Fadnavis said talukas with conditions of drought will be added to the order after inspection, and that no one will be denied help.

How has the rainfall shortfall affected Konkan, the region which normally gets more rain than other regions?

Maharashtra’s coastal belt of Konkan gets more rain than other regions, but it recorded a shortfall this year, which the government links to El Niño. Sindhudurg received 2,148 mm from June to September against an average of 2,896 mm, or 74%. Ratnagiri received 2,682 mm against 3,142 mm, or 85%. Raigad received 91%, though Shrivardhan and Mhasala fell 20% short. Only July had rain at the average, and September rain was less than half of it.

Rice and gram are sown in the region in kharif. Leaves have yellowed, and scab disease has appeared in places. Farmers fear the crop will be lost, or that yields will fall if it survives. Eight talukas in Sindhudurg, three in Ratnagiri and one in Raigad are covered, and the Agriculture Department has been asked to survey crop damage there.

Which talukas are covered?

The 265 talukas fall in six revenue divisions: Thane (12), Nashik (49), Pune (35), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (74), Amravati (56) and Nagpur (39). The Thane division entries are all in Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg. No taluka from Thane or Palghar district is on the list.

What has the government said on water and fodder?

Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said storage in dams will be planned until the monsoon returns, with drinking water first and irrigation after. He proposed supplying fodder through Direct Benefit Transfer and cited allegations of irregularities in fodder camps in the past. He said Ahilyanagar district has fodder for three months.

Published – September 29, 2026 09:55 am IST