Maharashtra Task Force: Maharashtra has established a special task force to address agricultural distress caused by climate change and to prevent farmer suicides. The 10-member committee, consisting of eight government officials and two experts, was formed by the Commissioner of Agriculture of Maharashtra and held its first meeting on February 16, 2026.
According to the government order issued by Agriculture Commissioner Suraj Mandhare, the task force aims to study social, economic, psychological, and agricultural factors leading to farmers’ distress and suicides. It seeks implementable solutions for climate-related agricultural issues, integrating current suicide prevention schemes with mental health support, and preparing emergency action plans. Local-level plans will be linked to regional strategies, coordinating with non-governmental and semi-governmental organizations for effective implementation.
Mr. Mandhare noted that a similar initiative in Nashik in 2019 significantly reduced farmer suicides in the district. ‘The focus should not be on compensation after suicides but on prevention and increasing farmers’ income,’ he stated from Pune.
The committee members include Rafiq Naikwadi, Sunil Borkar, Uday Deshmukh, Ganesh Ghorpade, Jeevan Bunde, Nandkishor Nainwad, Satyajeet Shitole, Vinayak Hegana, Srushti Doijad, and Sonali Shilkar. Maharashtra, the worst-affected state, reported 781 farmer suicides in the first nine months of 2025.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, February 17th, 2026
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