Sharad Pawar Urges Centre to Address Maharashtra’s Rising Farmer Suicides

Mumbai, 15th March 2025: Sharad Pawar, the president of NCP (SP), expressed concern on Saturday over the alarming rate of farmer suicides in Maharashtra’s Marathwada and Vidarbha regions, calling on the central government to implement policies that support the agricultural sector.

His statement came in response to data from the state’s relief and rehabilitation department, which recorded 2,635 farmer suicides in Maharashtra in 2024.

“The reports from Marathwada and Vidarbha are deeply concerning. We will gather precise data from various locations. The Centre must develop policies that provide relief to farmers,” he said while speaking in Baramati.

When asked about speculation regarding NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil possibly joining the Ajit Pawar-led faction, Sharad Pawar referred to Patil’s past statements to the media.

Patil, who currently serves as the state president of NCP (SP), had previously made ambiguous remarks about his future, fueling speculation about a potential switch. However, during an event in Baramati on Friday, he met with the NCP (SP) chief and later clarified that he was not dissatisfied with the party, attributing the speculation to misinterpretation of his earlier comments.

Discussing agricultural advancements, the former Union agriculture minister highlighted the upcoming use of artificial intelligence (AI) in sugarcane farming.

“AI technology can enhance the quality of sugarcane crops. Several sugar factories will participate in this AI-driven farming initiative. A meeting with sugar industry officials is scheduled for later today, where a major decision will be made, paving the way for AI integration in agriculture,” he stated.

Commenting on the recent turmoil in Beed following the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, Pawar recalled the district’s previously peaceful environment.

Beed has not seen such disturbances in the past. It was once a calm and stable district. Six representatives from my party were elected from Beed, but some individuals misused their power, and we are now witnessing the consequences,” he remarked.