Maharashtra Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil announced the establishment of a high-level committee on October 30, 2025, to address the ongoing debt challenges faced by farmers. The committee’s primary objective is to suggest short and long-term solutions to alleviate farmers from the burden of debt. The committee is currently in the process of analyzing data from banks related to agricultural loans up to June 2025 and arrears up to September 30, 2025, along with the repayment records of farmers over the past five years.
Minister Patil informed the state Assembly that out of an anticipated 54.63 lakh loan accounts, data from 52.80 lakh accounts has been received and is undergoing computerized scrutiny. He highlighted that more than 600,000 farmers are still awaiting benefits from the 2017 loan waiver scheme, with 44.04 lakh out of 50.60 lakh eligible farmers already receiving assistance. The government is actively working to extend benefits to the remaining 6.56 lakh farmers. Additionally, the 2019 crop loan waiver scheme has shown progress, with 32.29 lakh out of 32.42 lakh eligible beneficiaries already benefiting from the waivers.
Under the Mahatma Phule scheme, 14.50 lakh farmers who completed Aadhaar authentication have been granted incentives for their regular loan repayments. Minister Patil also mentioned that due to heavy rainfall and floods during the Kharif 2025 season, directives have been issued to the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) and district banks. These directives include the restructuring of cooperative crop loans in affected areas and a one-year moratorium on the recovery of agriculture-related loans to ease the financial strain on distressed farmers.
The minister dismissed claims of a fund shortage and highlighted that the government approved the computer system for the 2017 scheme’s continued implementation on December 3, 2025. A fund of Rs 500 crore was allocated during the Winter Session of 2025, and a budget request of Rs 5,175.51 crore for the 2026-27 financial year has been made to ensure the sustainability of these welfare programs. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also mentioned the formation of a dedicated committee to study the loan waiver process and emphasized the government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises in due course.
