Maharashtra to assess crop losses at mandal level beyond drought list

Maharashtra will extend crop-damage assessments to the mandal level to help farmers whose areas were not included in the state’s drought list, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday. The decision was approved by the state cabinet, according to Mr Fadnavis. He said special provisions would allow assistance for genuine crop losses even where a region did not satisfy the prescribed drought thresholds.

A total of 265 of Maharashtra’s 358 talukas, or about 74 per cent of the state, have been declared drought-affected. Crop-loss assessments are to determine the financial assistance available to farmers in those areas. Mr Fadnavis said ministers had raised concerns that crops were damaged in some places excluded from the drought declaration.

The government, he said, would examine those cases despite the failure to meet all standard criteria. He described the year’s weather pattern as unusual, with heavy rain during the first two months followed by two months without rain. The government will conduct more extensive assessments in affected talukas and consider drought-related benefits based on actual crop damage.

A cabinet subcommittee has been asked to assess individual talukas and oversee the procedure. Mr Fadnavis said the decision was intended to ensure that farmers and talukas left outside the initial list would not be denied support when they had suffered genuine losses. The Chief Minister also said farmers should be informed about the details recorded in crop-damage panchnamas, or assessment records.

He added that the cabinet subcommittee would take appropriate decisions where farmers were not present during the assessment. The supplied material does not specify the amount of assistance or the timetable for completing the additional surveys.