Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Thane Farmers Seek Drought Status As Dry Spell Threatens Paddy
Farmers in five parts of Thane district are worried because rain stopped for a long time.
Their main crop, paddy, needs water during important growth stages.
Farmers in Shahapur and Murbad say the dry spell may reduce their harvest.
They are also concerned about diseases and weak crop growth.
Former Union minister Kapil Patil asked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to provide drought-related help.
The state recently placed 265 talukas under an early drought-assessment category, but none were in Thane.
Farmers say rainfall totals do not show the whole situation because the timing of rain also matters.
They want officials to visit the fields and assess the damage before deciding on relief.
Kapil Patil urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to declare five Thane talukas drought-affected.
The requested talukas are Bhiwandi, Shahapur, Murbad, Kalyan and Ambarnath.
Maharashtra placed 265 talukas under Trigger-1 on September 25, but none were from Thane district.
Farmers say prolonged rainfall gaps are threatening standing paddy, especially in Shahapur and Murbad.
Farmers want a field-level survey covering crop conditions, soil moisture, rainfall gaps and potential losses.
- Who
- Farmers in Thane district, supported by former Union minister Kapil Patil, are seeking drought relief from the Maharashtra government.
- What
- Patil has requested drought status and relief measures for Bhiwandi, Shahapur, Murbad, Kalyan and Ambarnath.
- When
- The request followed the Maharashtra government’s September 25 announcement placing 265 talukas under Trigger-1.
- Where
- The affected areas are in Thane district, particularly the rural talukas of Shahapur and Murbad.
- Why
- A prolonged gap in rainfall is threatening rain-fed paddy and could affect upcoming rabi crops, farm incomes and rural livelihoods.
Farmers’ Position
Government Assessment Position
How drought should be assessed
Farmers’ Position
Farmers and Kapil Patil say the government should consider rainfall timing, dry-spell duration, crop stage, soil moisture and local water availability, not only cumulative rainfall.
Government Assessment Position
The government’s initial Trigger-1 assessment did not include any Thane taluka; the articles do not provide the government’s detailed reasons or response to the exclusion.
Immediate field survey
Farmers’ Position
Farmers want a transparent field-level survey in Shahapur, Murbad and the other requested talukas before crop losses become severe.
Government Assessment Position
The existing assessment framework has placed 265 talukas under Trigger-1, but no separate Thane field assessment or relief decision is reported in the article.
- Requested drought-affected talukas
- Bhiwandi, Shahapur, Murbad, Kalyan and Ambarnath
- District
- Thane, Maharashtra
- Main threatened crop
- Paddy
- Government Trigger-1 list
- 265 talukas were included on September 25
- Excluded district
- No taluka from Thane district was included
- Relief request
- A field-level assessment and access to drought-related government schemes
- Additional crop concerns
- Rabi pulses, vegetables and oilseeds may face sowing and moisture problems