NABARD Maharashtra marked its 45th Foundation Day on 16 July 2026 with a special celebration in Pune. The event also observed the International Year of Women Farmers 2026, recognizing the vital role of women in strengthening agriculture and rural livelihoods across the state.
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Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dattatray Vithoba Bharne attended as the Chief Guest. Women farmers, women-led Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), and rural entrepreneurs were felicitated for their significant contributions to rural development.
Why Were Women Farmers the Focus of This Year’s Celebration?
This year’s Foundation Day highlighted the growing contribution of women to India’s agricultural and rural economy.
The programme was attended by several distinguished dignitaries, including:
- Shri Jaikish – CGM & Principal, CAB, Pune
- Shri Vivek Nachane – GM & Convenor, SLBC Maharashtra
- Dr. Bharat Kakde – President, BAIF
- Shri Vidhyadhar Anaskar – Administrator, MStCB
Dr. A. V. Bhavani Shankar, Chief General Manager of NABARD Maharashtra Regional Office, welcomed the guests and addressed the gathering.
During the event:
- NABARD released its annual publication, Empowering Rural Maharashtra: NABARD 2025–26, highlighting key achievements and development initiatives undertaken during the past year.
- A documentary on the Backyard Poultry Livelihood Project in Chandrapur was screened, showcasing how women-led livelihood programmes are creating sustainable income opportunities in rural Maharashtra.
Agriculture Minister Announces New Farmer Welfare Measures
Addressing the gathering, Agriculture Minister Dattatray Vithoba Bharne appreciated NABARD’s 45 years of service in strengthening agriculture, rural infrastructure, and cooperative institutions across Maharashtra. He also emphasized the importance of empowering women farmers and outlined several key initiatives introduced in the state budget.
Key Announcements
- Crop loan waivers of up to ₹2 lakh along with a ₹50,000 incentive for farmers who repay loans regularly.
- Free electricity for agricultural pump sets with capacities up to 7.5 HP.
- Expansion of the Natural Farming Mission to cover five lakh hectares.
- Issuance of AgriStack digital IDs to more than one crore farmers.
- AI-powered advisory services through Mahavistaar-AI and Vasudha.
- Increased livelihood support under the Pashudhan Udyojak and Matsya Sampada schemes.
The minister also urged banks to improve Kisan Credit Card (KCC) coverage for small and marginal farmers.
He highlighted the achievements of the following programmes:
Under these initiatives, more than 50 lakh women associated with Self-Help Groups have collectively received loans exceeding ₹50,000 crore under the Lakhpati Didi initiative.
He further encouraged NABARD to strengthen collaboration with these programmes to support Maharashtra’s Viksit Maharashtra 2047 vision.
NABARD’s Contribution to Maharashtra’s Development
Dr. A. V. Bhavani Shankar stated that 2025–26 was a landmark year for NABARD Maharashtra.
Major Achievements
- ₹39,380 crore in refinance and business support—the highest achieved by the state office.
- Nearly ₹5,600 crore in direct infrastructure assistance.
- ₹37.72 crore sanctioned for development and grant-based projects.
He also highlighted progress in:
- PACS digitisation
- Expansion of Multi-Purpose PACS
- Support for Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)
- Climate-resilient agriculture
- Natural resource management initiatives
According to him, strengthening rural institutions and empowering women farmers will remain key priorities in achieving the goals of Viksit Bharat @2047.
The programme concluded with a welcome address by Smt. Samriti Bhagat, followed by the vote of thanks delivered by Shri Avinash P. Sevalkar.
For more updates on government schemes, agriculture policies, and rural development, visit the KhetiGaadi Government Schemes section and explore the latest Agriculture News on KhetiGaadi.
Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB) India
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