On Monday, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar hinted that the government was seriously considering offering incentives to farmers who had either settled their debts or had loans of more than Rs 2 lakh and were not beneficiaries of the government's loan waiver scheme, which was announced in December 2019.
"Waiving Rs 2 lakh loan (in 2019) after we came to power was the first commitment that we fulfilled," Thackeray said at a virtual programme for a state-level agriculture awards for the previous three years at the Maharashtra University Health Sciences (MUHS). We were also considering offering certain incentives to farmers who paid their dues on time. However, owing to the condition of the economy as a result of the Covid pandemic, we were unable to do so. But now we're going to do it."
At an event hosted by governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, 198 farmers (23 from Nashik) were honoured with state-level awards for 2017, 2018, and 2019.
In addition to Thackeray, the deputy chief minister hinted in his speech at providing assistance to farmers with loans of more above Rs 2 lakh. However, he also stated that farmers must maintain financial discipline in the future.
"The state government waived a Rs 2 lakh loan." We're taking it one step at a time. We will make a judgement on the matter as soon as the state's economic situation improves. "The promise that the chief minister made while assuming office will be fulfilled soon," Pawar added, emphasising the need of farmers adhering to financial discipline while receiving 0% crop loans supplied by institutions and repaying them on time.
Meanwhile, in his speech, Koshyari urged agriculture universities to expand their research and distribute it to farmers who are capable of furthering it.
"Maharashtra is the country's financial capital. Maharashtra's universities and farmers should work together to make the state the country's agriculture capital, according to Koshyari.
