Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana 2019
A waiver of an outstanding short-term crop loan up to ₹2 lakh — clearing the default so the farmer is bankable for the next season.
Run by: Co-operation, Marketing & Textiles Department, Government of Maharashtra
- Waiver ceiling
- ₹2 lakh
- Launched
- 12 December 2019
- Loan period covered
- 1 Apr 2015 – 31 Mar 2019
- Overdue cut-off
- 30 September 2019
- Regular-repayer incentive
- Up to ₹50,000
- Verification
- Aadhaar-authenticated
- Disbursed so far
- ≈ ₹20,497 cr to ≈ 32.37 lakh farmers
- Run by
- Co-operation Department
Overview
A crop loan that has gone bad is not just a debt; it is a lock on future credit. This scheme, run by the cooperation department, waives an outstanding short-term crop loan up to ₹2 lakh, so a farmer stuck as a defaulter can borrow again from a bank instead of a moneylender.
It was announced by the Uddhav Thackeray government in the winter session of the state legislature at Nagpur and formally launched on 12 December 2019, with the governing Government Resolution issued on 27 December 2019. The relief covers crop loans and restructured/rephased crop-loan installments disbursed between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2019 that were still overdue as of 30 September 2019 — the drought and low-price years that pushed a whole cohort of farmers into default. Loans from nationalised banks, district central cooperative banks and regional rural banks are covered.
The ₹2 lakh ceiling is the key figure — an earlier 2017 waiver had capped relief lower and tied it to conditions. Under this scheme the eligible outstanding is cleared in full up to ₹2 lakh, and anything above that stays with the farmer. By the department's own account the scheme has credited about ₹20,497 crore to roughly 32.37 lakh farmer accounts.
Verification is against the bank's loan records and is Aadhaar-authenticated: banks upload the list of eligible accounts, the farmer's name and loan account number appear on a published list, and the farmer confirms identity by Aadhaar at a Common Service Centre or designated bank branch before the account is credited.
In March 2022 the state added a companion incentive for farmers who did NOT default — those who repaid their short-term crop loans regularly in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 get a cash incentive of up to ₹50,000, so honest repayers are not left worse off than defaulters.
What you get
The benefit as the state notifies it — nothing here is an estimate.
- An outstanding short-term crop loan cleared, up to ₹2 lakh, in a single waiver.
- Restores eligibility for fresh crop credit, ending dependence on the moneylender.
- The full ₹2 lakh is cleared for eligible accounts — not a partial repayment incentive as in the older 2017 waiver.
- A separate cash incentive of up to ₹50,000 for farmers who repaid regularly in 2017-18 to 2019-20, so honest repayers also gain.
- Aadhaar-authenticated so the right beneficiary's account is the one cleared.
Who is eligible
State schemes usually state their criteria as prose rather than a checklist. This is that prose, unpacked — the department’s verification is what decides.
You qualify if
- Farmer in Maharashtra with a short-term crop loan account from a nationalised bank, district central cooperative bank or regional rural bank
- Loan or restructured installment disbursed between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2019
- Amount still overdue as of 30 September 2019
- Aadhaar linked to the loan account for authentication
- For the ₹50,000 incentive instead: crop loans repaid regularly (not overdue) across 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20
Not covered
- Loans above the ₹2 lakh ceiling (only the ceiling is cleared, the rest stays with the farmer)
- Loans disbursed outside the 1 Apr 2015 – 31 Mar 2019 window
- Accounts that were not overdue on 30 September 2019 (these may instead qualify for the regular-repayer incentive)
Documents you need
Have these ready before you start — most rejections are a missing paper, not a missing right.
- Aadhaar card (for authentication)
- Crop loan / KCC account details
- Bank passbook
- Ration card where required
How to apply
Fewer steps than a central scheme, and usually one office rather than a portal.
- 1
Check the beneficiary list
Eligible accounts are drawn from the banks' loan records and published branch-wise. Check the list against your loan account number, or ask at your branch.
- 2
Authenticate with Aadhaar
Confirm your identity by Aadhaar authentication at a Common Service Centre or the designated bank branch, which ties the waiver to the right account.
- 3
Loan account cleared
On verification, the eligible outstanding up to ₹2 lakh is credited to the loan account, closing the default and restoring credit eligibility.
If something goes wrong
Missing from the list, or payment stuck — here is the channel the department itself publishes for it.
- A wrong amount on the list, a missing name, or a completed authentication that has not cleared the account should first be taken up with the branch manager and then the District Deputy Registrar (Co-operative Societies).
- If it stays unresolved, lodge it on Maharashtra's Aaple Sarkar grievance portal at grievances.maharashtra.gov.in, or call the state helpline 1800 120 8040 (8am–8pm) — grievances there are meant to be addressed within 21 working days.
Frequently asked questions
How much of my loan is waived?
Up to ₹2 lakh of an eligible outstanding short-term crop loan. If your outstanding is above that, the ₹2 lakh is cleared and the rest remains yours to repay.
Which loans qualify?
Short-term crop loans and restructured crop-loan installments disbursed between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2019 that were still overdue on 30 September 2019, from a nationalised bank, district central cooperative bank or regional rural bank.
I always repaid my loan on time — do I get anything?
Yes. From March 2022 the state pays an incentive of up to ₹50,000 to farmers who repaid their short-term crop loans regularly in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20, so you are not penalised for being a good repayer.
Why do I have to authenticate with Aadhaar?
To confirm you are the genuine borrower before the account is cleared. The waiver is tied to the verified beneficiary, not just the account number, which is why it is done at a CSC or bank branch.
Does this restore my ability to take a new loan?
Yes — clearing the default is the point. Once the account is settled you are bankable again for the next season's crop credit.
How many farmers has it actually reached?
By the cooperation department's own figures, about ₹20,497 crore has been credited to roughly 32.37 lakh farmer loan accounts under the scheme.
Is this the same as the new 2026 loan waiver?
No. The state has since announced a fresh, larger waiver (the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana). This 2019 Phule scheme and its ₹50,000 incentive are separate and cover the earlier loan period.
Facts checked against mahasahakar.maharashtra.gov.in on 20 October 2026. editorial policy.