Drought Declared in 74% of Maharashtra Talukas
A prolonged dry spell lasting over 21 days has led the Maharashtra government to declare drought in 265 of the state's 358 talukas, covering approximately 74% of the region. This declaration follows a significant rainfall deficit during the 2026 kharif season. According to data from the India Meteorological Department, Maharashtra recorded only 801.5 mm of rainfall between June 1 and September 28, against a period average of 986.7 mm, resulting in a 19% deficit.
The state's Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, has directed district collectors to commence crop-damage assessments immediately. He emphasized that farmers, agricultural laborers, and workers would remain the central focus of the state's drought-relief measures. The government has also activated Trigger-1 under its drought management framework, a first-stage warning mechanism triggered by prescribed indicators including rainfall deficits exceeding 25% and prolonged dry spells.
Impact on Key Crops and National Supply
Maharashtra is a pivotal agricultural hub, accounting for nearly half of India’s soybean production, around 11% of maize output, and nearly a quarter of sugarcane production. The 2024–25 Economic Survey further highlights the state's dominance, noting it produced 48.3% of the country's soybeans and 39.4% of tur (pigeon pea) in that period.
The current dry conditions pose a direct threat to these crops, particularly maize and soybean, which are essential raw materials for the animal feed industry. Sugarcane, which supports the sugar and ethanol sectors, is also at risk. Industry experts warn that any significant reduction in output could lead to a supply-side shock, potentially triggering inflationary effects in food prices.
Rising Feed Costs and Livestock Sector Pressure
The scarcity of maize and soybean is expected to drive up the cost of animal feed, impacting poultry, dairy, and other livestock segments. Divya Kumar Gulati, Chairman of the Compound Livestock Feed Manufacturers Association of India (CLFMA of India), stated that the drought is a concern for the wider livestock value chain. "Any significant reduction in maize and soybean output can tighten feed raw material supplies and increase input costs for poultry, dairy and other livestock segments," Gulati said.
Chirag Jain, Partner and Agriculture and Allied Sector Leader at Grant Thornton Bharat, noted that the drought adds pressure to a vulnerable point in the food system: the maize-soybean-feed-protein chain. He predicted that in the coming months, key indicators will not just be rainfall totals, but the prices of soybean meal, maize, poultry feed, and consumer prices for eggs and milk.
Mitigation Strategies and Future Outlook
To prevent a temporary agricultural shock from translating into wider food inflation, experts recommend several measures. These include sourcing maize and soybean from surplus states, maintaining adequate seed availability for the next sowing season, and supporting drought-hit farmers. If domestic supplies tighten significantly, facilitating imports of feed ingredients may become necessary.
Feed manufacturers are also expected to increase the use of alternative ingredients such as sorghum, millet, and oilseed meals to reduce dependence on maize and soybean. Jain suggested that while a strong harvest elsewhere or timely policy action could interrupt the transmission of costs, it may not fully cushion the impact. Additionally, farmers may shift towards less water-intensive crops in the upcoming rabi season (October–March), making seed availability and cropping pattern assessments critical.
The government is expected to formulate a clear action plan, potentially including import options for affected commodities and enhancing production from other regions to stabilize the market.