Launch of Beneficiary Initiatives under Phase II of Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjeevani Project by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Project to be Implemented in Over 7,201 Villages Across 21 Districts of the State

Mumbai, Oct 2025 : Climate change has significantly affected agriculture in the state, severely impacting the farming community. In this context, to enable farmers to adapt to changing weather patterns and make agriculture more sustainable and profitable, the Government of Maharashtra, with the support of the World Bank, has decided to implement the Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjeevani Project through the Agriculture Department.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane, inaugurated the project’s initiatives and launched the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system developed to provide financial benefits to farmers and farmer groups under the project.

Also present were Ministers Chhagan Bhujbal, Hasan Mushrif, Uday Samant, and Girish Mahajan, Minister of State for Agriculture Ashish Jaiswal, Chief Secretary Rajesh Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture) Vikas Chandra Rastogi, Project Director Parimal Singh, and senior officials from the department and secretariat.

Due to rapid climate change, agriculture in the state has been adversely affected — with erratic rainfall, drought, and unseasonal rains damaging crops and reducing productivity. About 82% of the state’s land is rain-fed, making it vulnerable to fluctuating rainfall and extreme weather. Small and marginal farmers have been particularly affected. Rising temperatures, irregular rains, water scarcity, and diminishing landholdings have increased agricultural risks. Hence, it has become essential to increase capital investment and promote new technologies in farming while ensuring greater participation of youth and women in agricultural decision-making. Against this backdrop, the state has decided to implement the Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjeevani Project 2.0 with World Bank assistance.

Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for Farmers

In Phase II, farmers from project villages will receive financial assistance for on-farm investments such as constructing farm ponds, lining them, installing drip/sprinkler irrigation, well recharge, organic fertilizer units, fruit orchards, bamboo and tree plantations, sericulture, protected cultivation, and seed production. Assistance will be provided via DBT, following central and state guidelines, for farmers with holdings up to five hectares. However, there is no landholding limit for seed production beneficiaries.

Landless families, widows, divorced, and abandoned women will receive support for goat and backyard poultry rearing to create sustainable livelihoods. The entire benefit process will be paperless, facilitated through the DBT system. Farmers can apply through the Agriculture Department’s mobile app “Mahavistaar AI” or via the portal https://dbt-ndksp.mahapocra.gov.in/.

Additionally, farmer groups and companies will also receive financial assistance for value-added agri-businesses, storage facilities, and equipment, ensuring reduced costs and enhanced income.

Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane’s Remarks

Minister Bharane stated, “This project will directly benefit lakhs of farmers by integrating watershed management, organic farming, micro-irrigation, and crop diversification according to climate conditions. It will strengthen the backbone of the rural economy and give new direction to Maharashtra’s agricultural development.”

Launch of “Call for Proposal” Portal under Maharashtra AI Policy 2025–2029

Chief Minister Fadnavis also inaugurated the ‘Call for Proposal’ portal under the Maharashtra AI Policy 2025–2029, promoting the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), drones, and data-based crop management in agriculture. Through this initiative, startups, MSMEs, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and research institutions can submit innovative technology-based ideas to develop sustainable agricultural solutions.

Minister Bharane expressed confidence that “the successful integration of agriculture and artificial intelligence will be transformative for Maharashtra’s farming sector.”