Unseasonal rain and hailstorms since mid-March have caused extensive damage to rabi crops across 512,087 acres (approximately 204,835 hectares) in Maharashtra, India, impacting the state's agricultural economy. The damage occurred in two phases, with 307,492 acres affected in March and an additional 205,940 acres in early April. The northern region of Maharashtra, particularly Nashik district, has reported the highest losses, affecting crops like onion, grapes, and wheat. The state's Economic Survey indicates a significant decline in agricultural growth, dropping from 9.1% in 2024-25 to 3.4% in 2025-26, attributed to erratic weather conditions. This follows a previous Kharif season where floods devastated nearly 6.5 million hectares, impacting around 3 million farmers and resulting in a compensation burden of ₹31,628 crore on the government. Agriculture Minister Dattatraya Bharne acknowledged the severity of the situation and assured that the government would conduct immediate loss assessments and provide financial assistance to affected farmers.