MUMBAI, March 6 -- Natural calamities and other factors significantly affected Maharashtra's agricultural growth in 2025-26, resulting in a massive decline in the growth rate from 9.1% in 2024-25 to 3.4% in 2025-26 according to the state's Economic Survey presented before the state legislature on Thursday. Compared to last year, foodgrain production grew by only 1.6%, while oilseed production showed a massive decline of 47.4%. Along with the impact of heavy rains and floods during the kharif season, market prices and export limitations affected Maharashtra's agricultural growth. Despite a 3% increase in the area under foodgrain cultivation during the kharif season, production increased only marginally by 1.6% on account of crop loss-from 9,551,000 metric tons in 2024-25 to 9,703,000 metric tons in 2025-26. However, oilseeds registered a massive slowdown, going from last year's production of 9,668,000 metric tons to 5,087,000 metric tons, a decline of 47.4%. This decline was on account of reduced production of oilseeds, which went down by 48.1%, 17.1%, 24.4% and 21.8% respectively compared to last year. Kharif pulse production also decreased by 28.2%. In the rabi season, foodgrain production is likely to increase by 28.8% compared to last year but oilseed production is estimated to decline by 16.2%. In the agriculture-allied sectors, specifically animal husbandry, Maharashtra ranks third in the country in meat production, with an 11.6% share, and fifth in the country in milk production with a 6.7% share....