Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Vijay Wadettiwar highlighted that while the Devendra Fadnavis government had announced a Rs 31,000 crore relief package, the actual disbursements have amounted to only Rs 1,800 crore so far. “This translates into just Rs 10,000 per hectare, a paltry amount that hardly addresses the losses sustained by farmers,” he said.
Wadettiwar also drew attention to ongoing issues with crop procurement. Cotton farmers, for instance, are yet to receive approval from the Cotton Corporation of India due to its restrictive conditions, while soybean crops have been destroyed and their market prices remain “abysmally low” in a double-edged sword for farmers.
The Congress leader further criticised the state government for placing agricultural produce market committees (APMCs) under the direct control of the state marketing minister, rather than the rural and agricultural department, alleging that the move could lead to exploitation and financial injustice against farmers.
Illustrating the plight of individual farmers, the Congress cited one case from Maharashtra: a farmer invested Rs 66,000 to grow onions, but heavy rain destroyed most of the crop. The farmer managed to salvage 750 kg and spent Rs 1,500 to transport them to market, where he received only Rs 664 in return. “The Modi government had promised to double farmers’ income, but has left them in this dire situation,” the party noted on X.