MUMBAI: Even as Maharashtra grapples with drought, state govt has cleared Rs 4cr to send farmers on study tours abroad in 2026-27 “to expose them to advanced and modern tech used in other countries.“A total of 180 farmers will be selected for the tours – 5 each from 34 districts and 10 chosen through a state-level panel. They will be accompanied by 9 officers, with 1 officer assigned for every 20 farmers. Last year, state govt had sanctioned Rs 2cr for similar study tours.The move comes days after the opposition, led by NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar and Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray, criticised the govt over an alleged Rs 5cr official trip to London. That saw CM Fadnavis and minister Uday Samant cancelling their UK visit for the City Quantum & AI Summit, citing drought. But a team led by principal secretary (industries) P Anbalagan went.The officials say the scheme under which farmers are sent abroad for exposure to latest farming techniques and research has been in operation since 2004-2005.“The scheme was started to help farmers understand developed and modern technologies in advanced countries, along with export and marketing of agricultural products, market demand, and agricultural processing. It is intended to help farmers apply these practices on their own farms. The visits also provide information about agricultural technologies and related developments in different countries, while enhancing farmers’ knowledge and capacity through direct interaction with their counterparts abroad, field visits, and visits to relevant institutions. The scheme has been in operation since 2004-05,” an official said.Officials said the detailed itinerary, including the countries to be visited, will be finalised soon.In 2025, state govt doubled the spending limit per farmer under the scheme from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh. According to a Government Resolution, the subsidy had been raised in 2011 to 50% of the travel expenses incurred by a farmer for an overseas trip, subject to a maximum of Rs 1 lakh per farmer.“Between 2012 and 2025, the cost of air tickets, accommodation in foreign countries, and other related expenses increased significantly. The rupee’s exchange rate against the dollar and the euro has also risen. Considering these increases, the maximum subsidy limit per farmer has been raised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh,” the GR stated.The state govt has officially declared 305 out of 358 talukas (over 85% of the state) as drought-affected. The state’s cumulative debt burden is projected at Rs 9.3 lakh crore for the 2025–26 financial year, with estimates pointing toward Rs 11.02 lakh crore for 2026–27 according to state economic surveys.
