Fadnavis Emphasises Employment, Food Security, Drinking Water and Fodder Supply
Mumbai, October 11, 2026: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced plans to provide relief to farmers, agricultural workers and rural residents amid the ongoing drought situation. During a meeting with the Central Drought Assessment Team, he emphasised employment generation, food security, drinking water supply and adequate fodder for livestock over the next six to eight months. He said that a prolonged dry spell had severely damaged soybean, cotton, pigeon pea and sugarcane crops, while water shortages had weakened the prospects for rabi sowing and summer cultivation. The government plans to arrange water tankers in affected villages, reserve drinking water up to August 2027, restore water bodies and strengthen water conservation initiatives through technology-based monitoring. Fadnavis also highlighted the need to involve rural residents in water conservation projects to generate employment and support drought-affected communities.
The Chief Minister stated that fodder stocks in various districts were estimated to be sufficient for 90 to 120 days. The government will increase fodder production where possible, procure and store fodder, source additional supplies from other states if required, and establish fodder camps to protect livestock. He added that the state had submitted details of drought-related losses to the Centre and was seeking early financial assistance. The government will also work with the Centre to ensure that insured farmers receive their eligible crop insurance benefits promptly. Three central assessment teams inspected drought-affected villages in Ahilyanagar, Solapur, Jalna, Beed, Dharashiv, Washim and Yavatmal districts, examining agricultural fields and water sources and interacting with farmers to assess the ground situation.
