In a significant move for the agrarian community of eastern Vidarbha, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has instructed the state's additional chief secretary of the food and civil supplies department to initiate action on a major demand. The directive calls for exploring a financial bonus of ₹20,000 per hectare for paddy growers, a step that could bring immediate relief to farmers battling soaring input costs and weather-induced crop losses.
Representation by BJP Leader Spurs Action
The chief minister's intervention came after a detailed representation made by senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former minister, Sudhir Mungantiwar. Mungantiwar met Fadnavis at his official residence, Varsha, in Mumbai on Tuesday to press for urgent financial support for the paddy farming community. He highlighted the acute distress in the region, exacerbated by a sharp rise in the cost of essential inputs like labour, fertilisers, and seeds.
Compounding the economic pressure, unseasonal rainfall in September and October caused significant damage to standing crops. This double blow of increased expenditure and reduced yield has deepened the financial crisis for many farming households in Vidarbha, where paddy cultivation is a cornerstone of the rural economy.
Precedent and the Demand for Timely Intervention
Arguing for swift state support, Mungantiwar pointed to a successful precedent. During the previous kharif season, sustained follow-up by leaders had led the Maharashtra government to approve a similar ₹20,000-per-hectare incentive for registered paddy farmers under the minimum support price (MSP) procurement mechanism. This earlier relief package was widely credited with cushioning rural incomes.
"Given the similarity in circumstances this year, a comparable relief package is warranted," Mungantiwar maintained. He emphasised that timely intervention is crucial to stabilise farm incomes and prevent further financial stress in the countryside. The issue was first raised by him during the recent winter session of the state legislature held in Nagpur.
Expected Impact and Past Success
The chief minister's directive has raised expectations of imminent relief for thousands of paddy farmers in the region. Mungantiwar's past advocacy on similar issues has yielded substantial results. His efforts previously facilitated the direct transfer of ₹1,628 crore into the bank accounts of paddy farmers in Vidarbha, a measure that played a vital role in mitigating income shocks for rural households.
With the new directive now issued, the state administration is expected to work on formalising the bonus package. This move is seen as a critical response to stabilise the agricultural sector in eastern Vidarbha, which has been reeling under the combined pressures of climatic volatility and inflationary trends in farming inputs.
