Central Team Constituted to Review Drought Situation in Maharashtra

Mumbai: Approximately 80 percent of Maharashtra—a leading agricultural state—is currently gripped by drought, raising concerns about large-scale damage to Kharif crops. The Central Government has decided to dispatch a team to assess the extent of the crop damage and has already constituted the group. The Maharashtra government has declared 265 out of the state's 358 *talukas* (administrative blocks) as drought-affected areas due to a prolonged lack of adequate rainfall.

Maharashtra's Agriculture Minister stated that the central team, in collaboration with the state government, will visit the drought-affected regions to evaluate the severity of the situation. Subsequently, the team will submit a report to the Centre recommending relief and rehabilitation measures. Following this, the state will receive central assistance, which will be distributed among the affected farmers.

Earlier, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra had submitted a detailed report to the Centre outlining the state's critical situation and requesting assistance under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). In response to these circumstances, the Central Government decided to send a team to take stock of the situation on the ground.

Fears of severe damage to various Kharif crops—including *arhar* (tur/pigeon pea), soybean, sugarcane, cotton, and maize—have arisen due to the intense drought in Maharashtra. It is noteworthy that Maharashtra is a leading producer of all these crops.