Lok Sabha Question No. 4039 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-17
Subject: Assistance for Farmers affected by Natural Calamities
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh, Shri Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4039

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 17 TH  MARCH, 2026

## ASSISTANCE FOR FARMERS AFFECTED BY NATURAL CALAMITIES

4039.  SHRI SANJAY UTTAMRAO DESHMUKH: SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any cognizance of the financial losses suffered by farmers in various regions of Maharashtra due to heavy rainfall/hailstorm over the past three years and the recent year;
- (b) if so, the details of the affected areas;
- (c) the total number of farmers, families & villages affected including the details thereof and the details of the extent of damage caused to life property;
- (d) whether any inspection of the affected areas been conducted by the Centre, if so, the details of the report submitted to the Central Government by the inspection team;
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (f)  the  assistance  provided by the Central Government to the affected farmers and their families; and
- (g) the steps taken by the Government to prevent the adverse effects on farmer's lives caused by natural disasters, heavy rainfall and floods, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)

- (a) to (c):  The Government of Maharashtra has conducted survey of affected areas and the details of affected areas from 2022-23 to 2025-26, is as below:

| S. No.   | Year    |   Area affected (Lakh hectares) |   Number of farmers affected (in lakhs) |   Sanctioned Relief (in Rs. Crore) |
|----------|---------|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
| 1.       | 2022-23 |                           67.53 |                                   94.03 |                            8637.46 |
| 2.       | 2023-24 |                           52.06 |                                   69.05 |                            6421.63 |
| 3.       | 2024-25 |                           48.88 |                                   68.4  |                            6948.77 |
| 4.       | 2025-26 |                          105.88 |                                  136.28 |                           20195.5  |
|          | Total   |                          274.35 |                                  367.76 |                           42203.4  |

During January 2026, due to unseasonal rain, hailstorm & cyclone total 17481 hectares area was affected, impacting 30413 farmers across 3 districts. An amount of Rs.2256.87 lakh as relief of compensation to the affected farmers during January 2026 was provided. During February 2026, due to unseasonal rain, hailstorm & cyclone a total of 46980.94 hectares area is affected as per primary report. Survey of affected area is in progress.

(d)  to  (f):  As  per  the  National  Policy  on  Disaster  Management  (NPDM),  the  State Government  is  primarily  responsible  for  providing  necessary  relief  measures  on ground level in the wake of notified calamities including floods. The State Governments undertake relief measures in the wake of natural calamities from funds available in the form of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) in accordance with the Government of India approved items and norms. Additional financial assistance, over and above SDRF, is considered from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as per laid down procedure, in case of disaster of 'severe nature', which includes an assessment based on the visit of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) and a memorandum for assistance  under  NDRF  submitted  by  the  State/  UT  Government.  The  financial assistance  provided  under  SDRF  and  NDRF  is  by  way  of  relief  and  not  for compensation.

Details of allocation and release under SDRF and NDRF from 2022-23 to 2025-26 (as on 28.02.2026) is as under:

| Financial Year   | Allocation under SDRF   | Allocation under SDRF   | Release of Central Share under SDRF   | Release under NDRF     |
|------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|---------------------------------------|------------------------|
| Financial Year   | Central Share           | State Share             | Release of Central Share under SDRF   | Release under NDRF     |
| 2022-23          | 2706.40                 | 902.20                  | 2706.40                               | -                      |
| 2023-24          | 2841.60                 | 947.20                  | 2841.60                               | -                      |
| 2024-25          | 2984.00                 | 994.40                  | 2984.00                               | -                      |
| 2025-26          | 3132.80                 | 1044.00                 | 3132.80                               | 138.09 (Fire services) |
| Total            | 11664.80                | 3887.80                 | 11664.80                              | 138.09                 |

In wake of floods during 2025 in Maharashtra, an IMCT was constituted by the Central Government on 16 th  October, 2025 for on the spot assessment of damages, without waiting for the Memorandum from the State Government. The IMCT visited the affected areas in the State during 3rd to 5th November, 2025. Based on the report of  the  IMCT,  an  additional  financial  assistance  from  NDRF  is  considered  as  per established procedure.

The Central Government received a detailed memorandum  from the Government of Maharashtra seeking an amount of ₹29,781.66 crore in the wake of the  floods  that  occurred  in  the  year  2025.  Upon  examination  of  the  aforesaid memorandum, Ministry of Home Affairs requested the Government of Maharashtra to resubmit  a  revised  memorandum  in  accordance  with  the  formats/guidelines  and items/norms of the SDRF/NDRF. Subsequently, further action will be taken under the prescribed procedure based on the revised memorandum.

(g):  Steps  taken  by  the  State  Government  of  Maharashtra  to  prevent  the  adverse effects  on  farmer's  lives  caused  by  natural  disasters,  heavy  rainfall  and  floods  are listed below: -

-  Climate resilience plan and implementation:

Climate  Resilient  Agriculture:  NDKSP  (Nanaji  Deshmukh  Krishi  Sanjivani  Prakalp) (Project on Climate Resilient Agriculture)

-  Technology Adoption:
- i) Satellite  imagery,  drones,  and  GIS  for  crop  health,  soil  moisture,  and damage assessment
- ii) Drip/sprinkler irrigation,  sensor-based  water  management,  automated scheduling
- iii)  Mobile apps and SMS  for weather advisories, pest management, sowing/harvesting guidance
- iv)  Soil testing, health cards, balanced fertilizer management
-  Crop Diversification: Multi-cropping systems; integration of crops with livestock, fisheries, and poultry; agricultural processing and FPO-based market access.
-  Early Warning Systems: Coordinated mechanism among district administration, Agriculture Department, and disaster management authorities for timely alerts on  excessive  rainfall,  drought,  heat  waves,  hailstorms,  and  pest/disease outbreaks.

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