Pune: 52 Farmers from Maharashtra Embark on Europe Study Tour; State Doubles Aid to Rs 2 Lakh
Pune, 16th February 2026: In a significant step toward modernising the state’s farm sector, 52 progressive farmers from across Maharashtra have departed on a government-sponsored study tour of Europe under the Agriculture Department’s 2025–26 initiative. The scheme has been strengthened this year with the subsidy per participant increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh.
The decision to double financial assistance was taken by Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane, aimed at encouraging wider farmer participation in global exposure programmes.
Before the delegation’s departure, Minister Bharane interacted with the farmers via video conference, urging them to adopt innovative practices and share their learnings with farming communities across the state. Director of Agriculture (Extension and Training) Rafiq Naikwadi also extended his greetings and emphasised the importance of knowledge dissemination.
The study tour includes visits to four agriculturally advanced European nations:
1.France: Farmers will explore large-scale grain farms cultivating wheat, barley, and maize, along with modern dairy units to understand mechanisation, soil management, and crop rotation practices.
2.Switzerland: The delegation will visit the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), an internationally recognised centre for organic farming research, to study sustainable systems and mountain dairy cooperatives.
3.Netherlands: At the globally renowned Aalsmeer Flower Market, participants will examine international flower trading, auction systems, greenhouse technology, climate control, and water management practices.
4.Germany: The programme includes exposure to precision agriculture, advanced farm mechanisation, and cooperative agro-processing models.
Officials said the initiative is designed to enhance productivity while strengthening value addition, export potential, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), cooperative structures, dairy management, and climate-resilient agriculture.
Upon return, the participating farmers are expected to conduct district-level knowledge-sharing sessions to replicate successful practices across Maharashtra.
The Agriculture Department expressed confidence that the enhanced subsidy and international exposure will accelerate the adoption of modern techniques, boost farm incomes, and position Maharashtra’s agriculture sector to compete more effectively at the global level while maintaining sustainability.
