Mumbai, March 13 Farmers in Maharashtra will be supported through measures, including loan waivers, expanded insurance coverage, and welfare schemes, said Minister Dattatreya Bharane on Friday, asserting that the government will revolutionize the sector through its 'Maha Agri-AI' policy.
The state agriculture minister told the legislative assembly that the government is committed to strengthening the sector and improving farmers' livelihoods through a combination of policy reforms, technology adoption, and financial support.
According to the minister, the state has launched the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Farmer Loan Waiver Scheme to provide relief to distressed farmers. Under the scheme, farmers with outstanding crop loans up to Rs 2 lakh will receive complete waiver benefits. In addition, those with regular repayment are eligible for an incentive of Rs 50,000, he said.
Bharane added that a committee had been established to finalize the eligibility criteria, aiming to ensure that the maximum number of genuine beneficiaries benefit from the relief package.
The minister said the Gopinath Munde Farmer Welfare Scheme provides financial assistance to farming families affected by emergencies. Over the past three years, more than Rs 375 crore has been disbursed under the welfare program, he said.
The Gopinath Munde Farmer Accident Insurance Scheme has also been extended to cover agricultural laborers, with a budget allocation of Rs 120 crore for 2026-27, Bharane said.
The minister also highlighted other state and central initiatives, including the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi and the state-run NaMo Farmer Mahasamman Scheme, which together have helped "transfer more than Rs 52,300 crore" directly into farmers' bank accounts.
On technological interventions, Bharane pointed to the new 'MahaVISTAAR - AI' app, crop insurance reforms, mechanization efforts, and a first-of-its-kind Maha Agri-AI policy aimed at leveraging artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies to enhance farm productivity.
He said Maharashtra is the first state to implement a dedicated artificial intelligence (AI) policy for agriculture. The Maha Agri-AI policy would integrate Generative AI, drones, and robotics to mitigate risks associated with climate change and pest outbreaks, he said.
"Our pilot projects in Baramati and Nashik have shown that AI usage can increase production by 40 per cent and reduce fertilizer costs by 30 per cent. We are establishing a state-level AI and Agri-Tech Innovation Centre and specialized incubation cells across four agricultural universities," Bharne said.
"Our AI policy for agriculture will revolutionize the farm sector," he said.
The minister said the 'MahaVISTAAR - AI' mobile app, currently used by over 30 lakh farmers, provides real-time advice on crop cultivation and market rates. To ensure inclusivity, the app now supports tribal dialects like 'Dehwali' and 'Bhili', he said.
Under the 'Mukhyamantri Baliraja' free electricity initiative, subsidies of Rs 32,765 crore have already been provided to farmers using pumps up to 7.5 HP capacity, he said.
"For the first time in history, we have selected a record number of beneficiaries for farm mechanization through the MahaDBT portal, transitioning to a 'first-come, first-served' basis to ensure transparency," he added.