India, Nov. 2 -- With drought affecting crops and farmers across large parts of the state, the Maharashtra government on Saturday submitted a proposal to the Centre seeking around Rs.31,000 crore in financial assistance to compensate farmers for agricultural losses. The state will also seek additional funds separately to help farmers prepare for the upcoming Rabi season.

The proposal follows the completion of a detailed crop-loss assessment across 37,496 villages in 304 drought-affected talukas. The assessment found that crops on 14.15 million hectares of the total 16.6 million hectares under cultivation in these villages had suffered losses of more than 33%.

Last month, the state government declared drought in 304 of Maharashtra's 358 ...