Mumbai, February 27: The Maharashtra government established a high-level committee on October 30, 2025, to alleviate the burden of debt on farmers. This committee is tasked with formulating both immediate and long-term strategies to provide relief to farmers, as stated by Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil on Friday.
In response to questions posed by Shiv Sena-UBT leader Jadhav, BJP leader Prashant Thakur, and other members, Minister Patil informed the state assembly that the committee has yet to submit its final report. Currently, it is analyzing data related to agricultural loans from banks up to June 2025 and outstanding loans as of September 30, 2025, along with records of farmers who have consistently repaid loans over the past five years.
Minister Patil noted that out of an estimated 5.463 million loan accounts, data for 5.280 million accounts has been collected and is currently undergoing computer processing for analysis.
He also mentioned that over 600,000 farmers are still awaiting benefits from the 2017 loan waiver scheme. Out of 5.060 million eligible farmers, 4.404 million have received assistance. The government confirmed that the process to benefit the remaining 656,000 farmers is ongoing.
Under the Mahatma Phule scheme, 1.45 million farmers who completed Aadhaar authentication have received incentive grants for regular loan repayments. In light of heavy rains and floods during the Kharif 2025 season, the government has issued directives to the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) and district banks. These directives include the restructuring of cooperative crop loans in affected talukas. Additionally, a one-year moratorium on the recovery of agricultural loans has been implemented to provide immediate relief to distressed farmers.
Minister Patil dismissed allegations of funding shortages, stating that a computerized system was approved on December 3, 2025, for the continued implementation of the 2017 scheme. A budget of ₹500 crore was sanctioned during the 2025 winter session. Furthermore, the government has requested a budget of ₹5,175.51 crore for the 2026-27 fiscal year to ensure the continuity of these welfare programs.
This response from the minister follows a statement made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during a debate on the Governor’s address, where he mentioned the formation of a dedicated committee to study the loan waiver process and assured the assembly that the government would fulfill its promises in due time.
Reflecting on lessons learned from previous crop loan waiver schemes, Chief Minister Fadnavis specifically pointed out significant irregularities related to banking practices. The government has previously discovered that banks often provide incorrect account information during loan waivers. Some banks even reactivate old, inactive accounts to misappropriate government funds.
To combat such fraud, the state government is developing a comprehensive ‘Agriculture Collection’ system. This system will create a detailed digital record of agriculture, including features such as farmer registration data, land ownership records, 7/12 reports, and Aadhaar-linked verification.
My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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