Maharashtra approves ₹7,485-crore Rabi grant to revive sowing after rain-hit kharif
With improved water levels and soil moisture, authorities expect Rabi sowing—currently at 0.59% of the target area—to pick up pace in the coming weeks.
| Photo Credit:
EMMANUAL YOGINI/ The Hindu.
The Maharashtra government has approved a total grant of ₹7,485 crore for the Rabi season to accelerate sowing activities across the state. Of this, the Marathwada region will receive the largest share of ₹4,486 crore, followed by Vidarbha with ₹2,544 crore, the Pune division with ₹785 crore, and the Konkan division with ₹29.68 crore.
The decision comes after a sluggish start to the rabi season, with farmers reeling from extensive crop losses due to unseasonal, heavy rains over the past two months. The government has instructed officials to credit the sanctioned grant amounts directly into farmers’ bank accounts within the next few days to provide immediate relief and support for fresh sowing.
A senior agriculture department official said that the grants were approved after a thorough verification of crop damage reports submitted by district administrations. The financial assistance follows detailed assessments of the extent of losses across the state’s key agricultural regions.
Slow sowing
According to official data, so far 34,285 hectares have been sown under Rabi cultivation, accounting for only 0.59 per cent of the total cultivable area. However, the situation is expected to improve significantly in the coming weeks. Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne recently stated that the rabi sowing area, which averages 56 lakh hectares annually in Maharashtra, could expand to 65 lakh hectares this year due to favourable water availability.
While unseasonal rainfall and floods damaged kharif crops in several parts of the state, the same rainfall has replenished reservoirs, rivers, and wells, ensuring ample water for the upcoming season. The heavy rains have also improved groundwater levels and enriched soil moisture, creating ideal conditions for Rabi cultivation.
The rabi season, which begins in November, is expected to bring much-needed relief to farmers, particularly in regions like Marathwada. With sufficient water reserves and renewed state support, officials and farmers alike anticipate a productive agricultural cycle and a revival of rural economic activity.
Published on November 6, 2025
