Nagpur: Maharashtra govt has indicated granting bonus to paddy farmers, with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announcing in the assembly last week that the state is in the process of finalising eligibility.“The state govt is positive about granting a bonus for paddy and the process of fixing criteria is underway,” he said, offering a potential policy shift aimed at easing financial stress among farmers.The move follows sustained demands raised by former minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, who highlighted the issue through a calling attention motion. He pointed to rising input costs, erratic weather conditions, and volatile market prices as factors pushing paddy cultivators into financial distress, urging immediate state intervention.Fadnavis acknowledged the concerns, indicating that the govt took serious note of the issue. The proposed bonus, if approved, is expected to benefit farmers across key paddy-growing regions, including eastern Maharashtra, where cultivation is heavily dependent on monsoon patterns and market fluctuations.Mungantiwar, the Ballarpur MLA, has consistently raised the concerns of farmers from districts such as Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Bhandara, and Gondia, engaging with the state leadership and submitting representations detailing the economic challenges faced by cultivators. The announcement is being viewed as a response to those sustained efforts, though officials clarified that the policy details, including eligibility and quantum of support, are still under consideration.The development comes at a time when agricultural support measures are under scrutiny nationwide, with states exploring targeted interventions to stabilise farm incomes amid climate uncertainties and cost pressures. In Maharashtra, where paddy remains a key crop in several regions, the proposed bonus could serve as a critical buffer for farmers navigating fluctuating returns, as per the agriculture department officials.While no timeline has been formally announced, the govt’s stated position signals an imminent policy decision that could have wide-reaching implications for rural livelihoods and agricultural stability in the state.
