In a significant boost to Maharashtra’s agricultural sector, Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar presented the annual budget for 2025-26, allocating substantial funds to various agricultural initiatives. The budget proposes Rs 9,710 crore for agriculture, Rs 4,247 crore for soil and water conservation, Rs 708 crore for horticulture, Rs 390 crore for Animal Husbandry, and Rs 5 crore for dairy. This allocation comes at a time when agriculture has shown remarkable growth, expanding by 8.7% in 2024-25, compared to 3.2% the previous year. This growth is particularly notable given the dip in the growth rate of the industry and services sectors.
One of the most innovative proposals is the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture. The government plans to benefit nearly 50,000 farmers by deploying AI technology across one lakh acre of land in the first phase, with an allocation of Rs 500 crore over two years. This initiative aims to enhance agricultural productivity and efficiency, marking a significant step towards modernizing the sector.
The budget also highlights several ambitious water management projects. The Rs 88,574 crore Wainganga-Nalganga river linking project, which has received in-principle approval, is set to benefit an extensive area of 371,277 hectares. Additionally, the Nar-Par-Girna river linking project, estimated to cost Rs 7,500 crore, will benefit 49,516 hectares in Nashik and Jalgaon districts. The Damanganga-Ekdare-Godavari river linking project, worth Rs 2,300 crore, will provide 3.55 TMC of water. The Tapi Mega Recharge irrigation project, valued at Rs 19,300 crore, aims to benefit farmers in the saline areas of North Maharashtra and Western Vidarbha. Furthermore, a project to divert 54.70 TMC of water from the Ulhas and Vaitarna river basins in Konkan to the Godavari basin will provide irrigation water for around 240,000 hectares in the water-scarce Marathwada region.
The budget also includes significant investments in renewable energy and irrigation infrastructure. A 200 MW solar power project, costing Rs 1,594 crore, has been approved for the Mhaisal Lift Irrigation Scheme in Sangli district. The Gosikhurd National Project has already created 12,332 hectares of irrigation capacity by December 2024 and is set for completion by June 2026. The Maharashtra Irrigation Improvement Programme, costing Rs 5,036 crore, aims to enhance the canal distribution system. Under the Jalyukt Shivar Campaign 2.0, a total of 148,888 works costing Rs 4,227 crore will be undertaken in 5,818 villages, with all works scheduled for completion by March 2026.
The government has also announced a Rs 4,300 crore bamboo plantation project to promote bamboo-based industries. Additionally, Rs 2,100 crore has been earmarked for the Balasaheb Thackeray for agricultural business and rural transformation (SMART) initiative. The Maharashtra Agribusiness Network – Magnet 2.0 project, worth Rs 2,100 crore, aims to develop a hub for sustainable, high-value agricultural businesses. The Mukhyamantri saur Krishi vahini yojna 2.0 will be implemented in 27 districts to ensure a reliable daytime power supply for farmers. A new scheme, “Baliraja Farm and Pandan Road,” has been proposed for the transportation of seeds, equipment, fertilizers, and agricultural produce.
The budget also includes a significant focus on hydroelectric projects, with the government signing MoUs for 38 lift hydroelectric projects. These projects are expected to attract Rs 2.95 lakh crore in investments and generate 90,000 employment opportunities. Under the Mukhyamantri Baliraja mofat veej yojna, 45 lakh agricultural pumps up to 7.5 HP will receive free electricity, further supporting farmers in the state.
