States » WestPosted at: Sep 24 2026 11:13PM


Reach the fields in times of crisis: Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne tells officials

Bharat Ghandat
Nashik, Sep 24 (UNI) Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne on Thursday directed officials to reach farmers directly in the fields and address their problems amid crop stress caused by prolonged dry spells.
He said the state government was firmly behind farmers and was focusing on providing maximum relief over issues including crop insurance, electricity supply and compensation for crop losses.
Bharne was speaking at a meeting held at the Divisional Commissioner’s office in Nashik to review the crop situation across the Nashik division.
The meeting discussed on-ground assessment of crop damage, early crop-cutting experiments, crop insurance claims and electricity supply.
The Agriculture Minister instructed officials not to restrict their assessment to office-level reviews but to visit farmers in the fields, understand their difficulties and take immediate action.
He said all departments needed to work in coordination with a ‘Farmers First’ approach.
The meeting held detailed discussions on crop insurance claims and compensation. The government is working to ensure that insured farmers receive assistance based on the extent of their losses, Bharne said.
A request has been made to the Centre to relax the criteria related to satellite imagery so that farmers can receive relief based on actual crop losses, he said.
Bharne also directed officials to complete early crop-cutting experiments within the stipulated time to assess actual crop losses and facilitate planning for further assistance.
He said the state government would not wait for assistance under the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) norms before taking steps to help farmers.
While assistance under NDRF norms would be available wherever applicable, efforts would also be made to provide necessary relief through the state government at the earliest, he said.
The issue of regular electricity supply for agriculture was also raised by elected representatives.
They demanded at least 12 hours of power supply for farming, preferably during the daytime.
Bharne said a meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis would be held soon to discuss the issue.
He also directed officials of the concerned departments to take action on suggestions raised by elected representatives regarding crop insurance, electricity supply and other local issues.
Nashik Guardian Minister Girish Mahajan stressed the need for judicious use of water. He said drinking water and water availability for livestock were important concerns and required proper planning.
Jalgaon Guardian Minister Gulabrao Patil called for the settlement of pending crop insurance claims.
He said the continued pendency of claims despite directions from the Chief Minister was a serious matter.
Ahilyanagar Guardian Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil expressed concern over the availability of fodder, water and electricity, saying shortage-like conditions were prevailing across the district.
Nandurbar Guardian Minister Hasan Mushrif said the district had recorded the lowest rainfall this year and assured that the administration and elected representatives would work together to provide relief to farmers.
Dhule Guardian Minister Jaykumar Rawal raised concerns over the crop insurance premium structure, which he said was proving unfair to farmers in the district.
School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse said the prolonged break in rainfall had worsened the situation for farmers. He also pointed to difficulties faced by farmers while using the e-Pik Pahani portal and called for a sensitive approach during the crisis.
Food and Drug Administration Minister Narhari Zirwal said forest-rights landholders were facing additional difficulties.
District-wise crop situation reviewed Divisional Commissioner Dr Pravin Gedam presented an overview of the crop situation in the division, covering rainfall, dry spells, crop conditions, water storage, groundwater levels and the possibility of crop losses.
Dhule Collector Bhagyashree Vispute briefed the meeting on the situation caused by a prolonged gap in rainfall and said early crop-cutting experiments had been planned in the district.
Jalgaon Collector Rohan Ghuge presented details of water storage, groundwater levels, crop conditions and the expected decline in production due to the rainfall gap.
Ahilyanagar Collector Dr Pankaj Ashiya said the condition of moong, soybean and urad crops was poor. He also said tankers were supplying water to 121 villages and 441 hamlets in the district.
Nandurbar Collector Dr Mitali Sethi said early crop-cutting experiments had been planned in the district. Nashik Collector Ayush Prasad said 72 revenue circles in the district were affected by the prolonged gap in rainfall.
The meeting was attended physically and through videoconferencing by elected representatives from all five districts of the division.
Representatives raised farmers’ difficulties and local issues from their respective constituencies, with suggestions put forward on crop insurance, electricity, water, compensation, crop-cutting experiments and various government schemes.
Senior officials from the five districts, including district collectors, chief executive officers and officers from the Agriculture, Water Resources, MSEDCL, Revenue and other concerned departments, were present.
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