Drought Aid: Rs 5,000 Advance Credited to 4.47 Lakh Farmers in Nashik District; How to Check Payment
Maharashtra’s Rs 5,000 advance drought aid has been credited to 4.47 lakh farmers across all 13 talukas of Nashik district. Here is how the scheme works.
Photo: Rashid Jorvee / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Nashik, 14th November 2026: Maharashtra’s Rs 5,000 advance drought aid has been credited directly to the bank accounts of 4,47,043 farmers in Nashik district, The Free Press Journal reported. The state has declared drought in all 13 talukas of the district.
At Rs 5,000 each, that works out to roughly Rs 223 crore for Nashik district alone.
What the advance aid is
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the advance assistance of Rs 5,000 per farmer after a Cabinet meeting on October 14, so that it could reach farmers before Diwali, Deccan Chronicle reported. At the time, the state said about 1.1 to 1.2 crore farmers would benefit, at an estimated cost of Rs 6,000 crore, and that 304 talukas were officially drought-affected.
The payment is an advance. Final compensation is to follow crop damage assessments in each area.
Who received it in Nashik
Beneficiaries came from across the district, including villages in Sinnar (Dapur), Igatpuri (Vanjole), Niphad (Kokangaon) and Malegaon (Dabhadi), the report said. Maize growers are among those hit by poor rainfall this season.
How farmers can check the payment
1. Check your bank passbook or SMS alerts for a credit of Rs 5,000 from the state government.
2. If nothing has arrived, ask your village talathi or the taluka agriculture office whether your name is on the beneficiary list.
3. Make sure your bank account is linked to Aadhaar and that the name matches your 7/12 land record, as mismatches are the most common reason for failed payments.
Banks should not deduct relief money against old loans. Nashik’s collector had earlier barred banks from doing so with rain-damage relief; farmers facing deductions can complain to the tahsildar.
Why the aid matters this year
A weak monsoon left many rain-fed farmers in north Maharashtra and Marathwada with poor kharif harvests, especially maize and soybean. With rabi sowing under way, an advance of Rs 5,000 helps families buy seed and fertiliser before final compensation arrives. Farmers’ groups have said the amount is small against actual losses and want faster final payments.
What about Pune district?
Pune district has drought-hit areas too, particularly in the eastern talukas such as Baramati, Indapur, Daund and Purandar. Farmers there should check with their taluka office whether the advance has been paid. Earlier this month, farmers protested in Pune seeking faster drought relief, as we reported in VBA’s protest for drought relief.
What is still not clear
The state has not published the final compensation rates per hectare or a date for the second payment. We will update this story. For more, see our agriculture section.
Frequently asked questions
How many farmers in Nashik got the Rs 5,000 drought aid?
4,47,043 farmers in Nashik district received Rs 5,000 each, according to The Free Press Journal.
Is the Rs 5,000 the full drought compensation?
No. It is an advance announced before Diwali; final compensation is to follow crop damage assessments.
How can I check if I received the drought aid?
Check your bank account or SMS alerts, and ask your talathi or taluka agriculture office if your name is on the list.
Can banks deduct drought relief for loan recovery?
Nashik’s collector has barred banks from deducting relief money; complain to the tahsildar if it happens.
