On the occasion of Maharashtra Krishi Diwas (Agriculture Day), Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday announced a major initiative for the state's farmers, including the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into farming to drastically cut production costs.
To spearhead this transformation, the state will develop India's first AI-driven mobile application dedicated entirely to the agricultural sector. "Our agriculture department will soon launch a dedicated app that will prove highly beneficial for farmers," he added.
Highlighting that Maharashtra allocates the highest budget in the country for agricultural mechanisation, the Chief Minister outlined various government schemes and shared key plans to transform the state's agricultural sector. In a significant move to protect farmers from fraud, he announced that it will now be mandatory to certify all types of seeds through the government's official website.
This step aims to curb the menace of counterfeit seeds and prevent exploitation. He was speaking at the Krishi Award Distribution Ceremony. Addressing regional challenges, the Chief Minister emphasised that the government is actively working on strategies to tackle climate change in the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions.
Farmers in these areas will receive specialised training to adapt to changing weather patterns and ensure sustainable farming practices. He asserted that the state government is consistently working through various schemes to make agriculture in Maharashtra more capable, sustainable, and profitable.
"We will not let the next generation of Maharashtra suffer the scourge of drought," he said. Highlighting the success of state interventions, the Chief Minister noted that extensive water conservation work has been carried out in more than 22,000 villages through the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan and the Farm Pond Scheme.
"Due to these efforts, shifting from single-crop to double and triple-crop farming has become possible in many regions. Orchards are now blooming even in areas where farming was once considered extremely difficult," Fadnavis said, adding that water conservation is proving to be an effective tool in combating climate change.
The Chief Minister emphasised that the state's decision to provide free electricity to farmers is being implemented effectively. Maharashtra currently leads the nation in installing solar agricultural pumps, accounting for 60 per cent of the total solar pumps installed across India under the Prime Minister's scheme.
Currently, 75 per cent of the state's farmers receive daytime electricity. The government aims to provide 12 hours of free daytime electricity to all farmers across the state by the end of this year, he added. To support farmers, the state government incurs an annual expenditure of Rs 28,000 crore on free electricity.
Furthermore, Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 crore is allocated annually for agricultural mechanisation, providing subsidies ranging from 80 per cent to 100 per cent on various farming equipment, he mentioned. To provide long-term relief to arid regions, the government has launched an ambitious flood diversion project.
This initiative will channel excess water to the drought-prone talukas of Western Maharashtra and further into the Marathwada region via the Ujani dam. The ultimate goal of this project is to build a completely drought-free Maharashtra, stated the Chief Minister.
Congratulating the farmers honoured with state agriculture awards, Fadnavis described them as the true ambassadors of the Agriculture Department. He emphasised that their innovative practices and resilience in adverse conditions would inspire others.
He concluded by stating that while the government is introducing relief measures like loan waivers, its ultimate objective remains boosting capital investment in agriculture to make farmers truly self-reliant and financially secure.